What Is The Best Ergonomic Office Chair?

chiropractor in San Diego, I am often asked byyet we often scoff at spending more than a few
my patients “What is the best ergonomichundred bucks on a good chair that we sit in for
office chair?” You would be amazed by how8 hours per day. That is some backwards logic
many cases of neck pain, back pain andisn’t it?
headaches could be relieved completely or at leastThat being said, you don’t have to spend a
reduced in frequency and intensity simply bysmall fortune on a good office chair. My chair fits
reducing the stress that a poorly designed officeall of my needs and I found it at Costco for
chair can cause. I always tell my patients thatabout $100.
while your weekend warrior exploits will sprain andWhat features does a $100 chair need to have in
strain tight muscles, it is the postural stress thatorder for it be the right chair for you?
you are exposed to during your 40 plus hours perThis is a short list of general features that should
week of sitting in poorly designed chairs that isbe present in a good ergonomic chair.
the real culprit in your ongoing aches and pains.1) It should have a high back
Regarding office chairs, anyone who has gone to2) It should have arm rests
an Office Depot or Staples or any of the other3) The backrest should recline and be slightly
countless office supply stores has seen howconcave and include a 5 cm lumbar support that
many different office chairs that are available.preferably is adjustable
The question is, which one should you choose?4) The seating surface should be able to tilt from
One thing is for certain, as far as your back andfront to back
neck goes, the color doesn’t matter.5) The height of the chair should be adjustable
However, plenty of other features do matter and6) The armrest height should be able to adjust up
can determine how your back feels at the end ofand down
your work day.7) You must be comfortable in it. A chair with all
There are specific brand names that manufacturethese features is worthless if you don’t
high end chairs that cost in the thousands offind it comfortable.
dollars. If you decide that a chair like that fits yourThe bottom line is this, finding the best ergonomic
needs by all means buy it.chair for you is extremely important regardless of
On a regular basis I hear patients comment in awhether or not you currently suffer from neck
negative way about the expense of ergonomicpain, back pain, headaches or any other
office products. My response usually draws asymptoms related to postural stress. Once you
correlation between the costs of their vehicleare in pain, chiropractic care will help you restore
versus the cost of a good chair. Very few of usyour health but you need a healthy ergonomic
spend more than 8 hours per week in our carsenvironment to prevent ongoing postural stress.
that we spends tens of thousands of dollars on