Sitting Comfortably!

->ensure that the backrest provides you with plenty
As you know a vast amount of your time whenof support. An ergonomic chair provides such a
at work is spent sitting at your desk and thisfeature and you will find that your posture
results in a large amount of stress being placed onimproves and this results in less strain being put
your spine. One way of avoiding the developmenton your lower back. Many ergonomic office chairs
of any sort of back problems is that you or yourare provided with a lumbar adjustment
employer should look at purchasing a good qualitymechanism to ensure that your back is well
ergonomic office chair. These types of chairs helpsupported at all times.
to improve your posture whilst sat at your deskAnother standard feature of all ergonomic office
which should help to prevent any stress to yourchairs is the width of their backrests. These
lower back.usually range between 12 and 19 inches. When
Today you will find there are many types oflooking at the backrests of such a chair there are
ergonomic office chairs available on the market,a number of issues you must consider. Firstly if
but you need to look carefully before decidingthe backrest is separate from the seat of the
which will be the right one for you.chair can it be adjusted both for height and angle.
One of the first things that you should askDon't forget that this part of the chair will be
yourself when looking for the right chair is will I besupporting the natural curve of your spine and
comfortable not only at the beginning of the daygiving the necessary support to avoid you causing
but also by the end of my working day.injury to your lower back. But if the backrest is
There are features you will find on an ergonomicjoined to the seat of the chair you need to make
office chair that are standard and which yousure that this is provided with an adjustment
usually find are optional on a standard office chair.mechanism for both forward and backward
Firstly, you will find that on most office chairsangles and that there is locking mechanism with it
they will have an easily adjustable height levelfor ensuring that it is secure in the position that
which allows the user to sit comfortably on theyou feel most comfortable in.
seat whilst their feet are placed flat on the floor.There are a number of other features you can
You will find with an ergonomic office chair thelook at when researching what sort of ergonomic
seat should provide you with enough width andoffice chair is right for you and these are as
depth to support you correctly and comfortably,follows:-
you don't want to be sitting on a seat that seemsSeat - The material that the seat is made of
to throw you forward and therefore puts you inshould be breathable (don't forget people sweat)
the wrong posture position. Also remember toand that it should have enough padding to enable
look how deep the seat is, if you are able to sityou to sit on it comfortably for extended periods
comfortably on it with your back against theof time.
backrest and find that you have between 2-4Armrests - These should be adjustable and allow
inches of space between the back of your kneesyou to rest your arms comfortably which will
and the seat then this is the ideal one for you.result in your shoulders being placed in a more
Another option found of most ergonomic officerelaxed position and therefore helping to stop
chairs you will find as standard is the tiltfurther stress to your spine. Make sure that when
mechanism for the seat. This is ideal for peopleyou are typing your elbows and lower arms
who are slightly shorter in the leg and find itshould be resting lightly on the armrests and the
difficulty even with the seat completely loweredforearm should be raised.
to place their feet flat on the floor.Last but not least the chair should be able to
The next thing that a good ergonomic office chaireasily rotate so that you reach various parts of
will provide you with is support for your loweryour desk with putting any additional strain on to
back. Due to the design of your spine whichyour back or body.
curves inward at the lower section you need to