| You are thinking of getting an ergonomic chair. | | | | Back supports are a personal preference, |
| Well done! Your decision to think ergonomic | | | | determined by the shape of your back. Broad |
| means you care about your skeletal joints so that | | | | shouldered people will prefer the wider supports, |
| you suffer less discomforts in daily life. My | | | | whereas smaller frames should look for a |
| knowledge as a trained Occupational Therapist, | | | | narrower shaped support. |
| along with our mission to protect your joints, | | | | The position of your feet in sitting is important for |
| preserve your energy and promote your safety | | | | balance and stability. Ideally they should be firmly |
| will assure you that we genuinely want you make | | | | placed on the ground, to balance the central core |
| the right decisions in ergonomics for daily life. | | | | region of your body. However, sitting is a dynamic |
| What is an ergonomic chair? The word ergo is | | | | position, your feet should move, in relation to the |
| Latin for 'work' that describes its purpose. | | | | position of your arms and legs for balance in your |
| Occupational Therapists teach safe performance | | | | pelvic bones. This promotes an increase in your |
| in functional tasks for daily living that includes all | | | | respiration through unrestricted breathing to your |
| productive activities. Ergonomic chairs are used in | | | | lungs and helps ease discomforts in your back |
| all environments, but the office chair is my focus | | | | when prolonged sitting. The automatic movement |
| for this article, because they are becoming more | | | | is needed, because your pelvic area gets starved |
| prevalent in the home; since the advent of the | | | | of oxygen through the downward pressure of |
| computer. With increase in computer technology, | | | | sitting which needs constant movement, to |
| along with access to the World Wide Web, a | | | | replenish oxygen in the muscles under your pelvis. |
| whole new world has been created in social media | | | | It will help you understand the reasons for |
| interaction. Ergonomic chairs have become a | | | | continuous movement between balance and |
| necessary inclusion in daily life, for helping | | | | stability in the pelvic region and its value for good |
| preserve skeletal joints that support our bodies | | | | posture when sitting. |
| when sitting. Choosing an ergonomic chair begins | | | | Armrests are required for performing activity, but |
| with its purpose, as this determines how you sit in | | | | you want them for resting after performance. It |
| productive activity. | | | | is important to have adjustable height armrests, |
| The chair parts are important for you to | | | | so the height can be changed, according to the |
| understand their purpose in functional movement. | | | | heights of different people. If they are not |
| The base mechanism fits under the seat and | | | | adjustable, you will end up with tension in your |
| provides mechanical features that will adjust the | | | | shoulders, that result in discomfort. Make sure |
| function of the chair. Some features are standard | | | | that when you use the arm rests, your shoulders |
| with ergonomic chairs, but need some explanation. | | | | are relaxed and the armrests allow your |
| The seat height adjustment changes the seat so | | | | forearms to rest comfortably at a ninety degree |
| that your hips remain at ninety degrees of flexion | | | | angle. |
| to the floor. This position creates a knock-on | | | | Skeletal support and comfort are your priority |
| effect to your knees and ankles to also move | | | | when choosing an ergonomic chair. Feeling |
| into ninety degrees. The equal symmetry creates | | | | comfortable in sitting on your pelvic bones, |
| equal balance and weight distribution in your lower | | | | creates the core foundation of sitting stability. |
| limbs joints. The swivel component is important | | | | Your back should feel comfortably relaxed with |
| for keeping your body central to the task being | | | | the back support, but not sedentary. Your back |
| accomplished. You may need to move the whole | | | | needs active movement, along with support, so |
| seat, by using the casters. | | | | that changes to your sitting balance are on your |
| The base mechanism has optional features like | | | | pelvis. |
| the seat slide, which moves the seat forwards or | | | | Ergonomic positioning comes from correct sitting |
| backwards. This provides greater depth or | | | | in an ergonomic chair. It comes from moving your |
| reduction to the seat and is only useful if you | | | | arms and legs in activity that helps restore |
| share the seat with someone taller or smaller | | | | balance in your pelvic region. Your base is the |
| than yourself. Remember that the seat length | | | | most important consideration, when purchasing an |
| should not be any shorter or longer than four | | | | ergonomic chair. The rest of the components |
| fingers measurement to your calf muscle, or it will | | | | contribute to your comfort needs for making |
| constrict the blood flow of the superficial vessels | | | | performance safe and comfortable. |
| in your lower limbs. | | | | In summary, ergonomic sitting is not a sedentary |
| A tilt control feature is only of value to people | | | | position. The ergonomic sitting position must |
| suffering back discomforts. Allowing a moderate | | | | always be active through shifting balance and |
| incline to the back rest will reduce the vertical | | | | stability in the pelvic region. This comes through |
| pressure running through your back through each | | | | using your arms and legs that work in harmony |
| vertebra. If you don't suffer back discomfort, | | | | with the spine and pelvis, for creating a |
| then the upright position provides optimum | | | | synchronized sitting position. Many people spend |
| performance for comfort and safety (Unless you | | | | too much time in sedentary sitting positions that |
| want nap in-between projects!) | | | | waste valuable energy in poor postures that |
| The base sits on top of the mechanism and is | | | | contribute to the many of the medical problems |
| your foundation for balance and flexibility. Consider | | | | that we see today. Practical solutions are available |
| choosing a base that fits your movement | | | | in other articles on our website that combat |
| requirements and weight needs, but aim to | | | | inactivity. Our company strives to encourage safe |
| strengthen this area for producing good sitting | | | | performance, using ergonomic daily living products. |
| balance. If you need help with this area, then our | | | | Since we are a new company, we have started |
| company offers a free Therapeutic Active Living | | | | by selling ergonomic seating. We offer a free |
| Plan with each chair we sell, that will help you | | | | "Therapeutic Active Living Plan" with purchase of |
| activate your pelvic region in your chair. | | | | any of our ergonomic chairs or stools. The free |
| The back support is supports your back, but not | | | | plan is designed to help customers see that |
| act as a 'prop' on stability. You weight needs to | | | | exercise comes not just in recreational activities, |
| be on your pelvic bones, so that your back | | | | but also in the way we apply movement to |
| remains relaxed in an upright position. If you are | | | | functional tasks in our daily living activities. The |
| suffering from back discomforts, then the sliding | | | | movements we perform generate exercise that |
| support mechanism is recommended. This | | | | we can translate into a simple therapeutic process |
| provides an adjustable support that can be | | | | for stimulating strength in our pelvic region and will |
| re-positioned according to any discomfort in your | | | | ultimately improve muscular control in ergonomic |
| back, for creating comfort and ease when sitting. | | | | sitting balance. |