| With the increase in back and neck problems | | | | tailored to your needs. |
| being experienced by office workers who spend | | | | Backrest Height Adjustment: |
| hours at their desk an ergonomic office chair is a | | | | The backrest of an Ergonomic Office Chair should |
| valuable piece of office furniture that is designed | | | | be adjustable in height. This function is very |
| to help you sit correctly by providing support for | | | | important as different people have different spine |
| the body and by keeping the spine in the correct | | | | lengths and the lumbar curve can differ from |
| position. Most people are able to feel the | | | | person to person. |
| difference between a standard chair and an | | | | Reclining Feature: |
| ergonomic chair as soon as they spend some | | | | The ability to recline the chair backwards while |
| time working in one. Having a correctly fitted chair | | | | taking a break or performing tasks such as taking |
| can make all the difference to staff productivity | | | | a phone call, reading a document or having a |
| and creativity as they provide the correct | | | | meeting etc. will that allow the user the |
| support to the user, allowing them to focus on | | | | opportunity to lessen the strain on their back and |
| the job at hand. | | | | give the upper body the chance to rest. |
| Ergonomic Office Chairs are usually more | | | | Height Adjustable Armrests: |
| expensive than their regular counterparts | | | | Most office chairs come with fixed armrests that |
| however this cost can be explained through | | | | cannot be adjusted. For a number of reasons this |
| additional functionality provided by these types of | | | | is not practical. Armrests on quality office chairs |
| chairs. As many Ergonomic Chairs also come with | | | | should be adjustable in both height and depth. This |
| long warranties for many of the components the | | | | will allow any user to adjust the armrests so that |
| cost can sometimes work out to as little as 50 | | | | they can correctly support the arms. Another |
| pence per day or less over the warranty period | | | | reason for having adjustable armrests is so that |
| of the chair; most of us would agree that this is a | | | | they can be set so they work well with any desk |
| worthwhile daily cost to keep you or your staff | | | | height. |
| productive for longer whilst also helping maintain a | | | | Seat Height Adjustment: |
| healthy back. | | | | You should be able to adjust the height of the |
| Ergonomic Office Chairs in the UK are governed | | | | chair by raising or lowering the gas lift. This |
| by the Health & Safety Standard BS EN ISO | | | | function is available on almost all office chairs not |
| 9241-5. The standard states that "office chairs | | | | just ergonomic ones. You should adjust the height |
| should encourage dynamic sitting". While this may | | | | of the chair so that your hips are higher than |
| be the case another set of standards EN 1335-1 | | | | your knees with your feet flat on the floor. |
| states that "some supposedly Ergonomic Office | | | | Seat Depth Adjustment: |
| Chairs designs do not meet the requirement of | | | | This functionality is usually not available on regular |
| the standard". In many cases this is due to | | | | office chairs. Adjusting the Seat Depth will allow |
| manufacturers labelling their chair as "Ergonomic" | | | | you to customise your seat so that it correctly |
| without referring or conforming to the relevant | | | | supports your thighs and allows you to |
| guidelines. Anyone looking to purchase an | | | | comfortably sit back in the chair and correctly |
| Ergonomic Office Chair should always look to | | | | utilise the back support. By correctly supporting |
| reputable dealer prior to making any purchase. | | | | the thighs you will also prevent pressure being |
| Below are some things to look out for when | | | | placed on the back of the knees as this can |
| thinking about purchasing an Ergonomic Office | | | | restrict circulation. |
| Chair: | | | | Seat Forward Tilt: |
| Headrest/Neckrest: | | | | Another function not commonly available on |
| Using a Headrest or Neckrest allows the head or | | | | regular chairs. This function will allow the pelvis to |
| neck to be supported, reducing weight and also | | | | angle forwards, putting the lumbar section of the |
| allowing the upper spine to align correctly. The | | | | spine into its natural position and reducing stress |
| Headrest or Neckrest should be both height and | | | | on the lumbar muscles and discs. |
| depth adjustable so that it can be specifically | | | | |