What Ergonomic Chair Functions and Features Do

By now, most people are familiar with the termway during some activities that may require lots
"Ergonomics" and understand that ergonomicof arm movement.
furniture is more healthy for the body because itWidth-adjustable Armrests: This function allows
helps to maintain more natural positions thatthe user to change the distance between the
reduce stress to the bones, muscles, and nervesarmrests, not the armrests themselves. For an
throughout the body. But chair companies andergonomic office experience, the user does not
ergonomists often throw around terms related towant a chair with armrest too close together as
the designs and functions of ergonomic chairs thatthis will splay the elbows and cause the wrists to
the common consumer may not understand. Herebend to the side during activities such as typing.
is a list of some terms you may need to know.This puts the user at wrist for Carpal Tunnel
Lumbar Support: This is one of the mostSyndrome.
important features of an ergonomic chair. ThisPadded Armrests: This feature is advisable as it
device is intended to prevent, as much asprevents uncomfortable pressure on the
possible, the flattening of the lumbar spine thatundersides of the forearms and elbows.
occurs to most people when there are seated.Backrest Angle Adjustability: This function allows
Lumbar supports usually work as a gentle curve inthe user to change the angle of the backrest
the backrest shape, and allow user to be seatedrelative to the angle of the seat. The most
more comfortable for a longer period of time.common way to adjust the backrest is through
Backrest Height Adjustability: This function allowsand adjustment mechanism, however, it can also
the user to change the height of the lumbarbe adjusted through flexing materials or springs in
support area in the chair backrest, although thisthe shell of the chair. Backrest angle adjustability
feature is often interpreted as the ability toenables the chair to support different degrees of
change the height of the entire backrest. Thisrecline for the body, which in turn transfers some
function accommodates preference by differentupper-body weight to the chair backrest and
users regarding where and how the lumbarrelieves the lower back's intervertebral discs. This
support curve contacts the back.function also increases the angle between the
Lumbar Depth Adjustability: This feature affectstorso and the thighs, which causes the lower back
the size and sometimes the firmness of theto curve inward. This inward curve in the back
lumbar support curve in a chair's backrest. Likealso relieves pressure on the disc.
backrest height adjustability, it accommodatesChair Recline or Tilt: This is a similar function to
different body types and preferences by thethe Backrest angle adjustors, but not the same.
user.Chair recline or tilt changes the angle of the entire
Height-adjustable Armrests: This function, as thechair seat relative to the floor. There are a couple
name suggests, allows the user to adjust theof ways that this function can work. One is a
height of the armrests to suit the body of thecolumn tilt, which pivots the chair at the top of
person, this helps people avoid using chairs withthe base post and lifts the knees slightly while the
too high or too low of armrests, which couldback descends. The second is called a knee tilt,
result in elevated shoulders and pressure on thewhere the pivot point is forward of the post,
undersides of the elbows and forearms, or wouldcloser to the knees. In a knee tilt chair, the knee
require the user to slump or lean over to one sidelift is negligible, but the back descend more than in
to use the armrest, respectively. This feature alsoa column tilt chair.
allows for the armrest to be moved out of the