Ergonomic Chairs

It is difficult to find one chair that is perfect for everyone. In fact, its impossible. However, through in-house testing and the analysis of sales reports and user reviews we can make a few recommendations for the best ergonomic chair. The chairs being considered when making this "best of" decision were from different price groups, but shared a fairly common feature list.

Our #1 recommendation for best ergonomic chair is the Aeron Chair by Herman Miller.

Next we would recommend the Freedom Chair by Humanscale, followed by the Leap Chair from Steelcase, the Mirra Chair (also by Herman Miller) and finally Neutral Posture chairs. These are some of the best-selling and most popular models on the market.

We also really like the Terra task chair by VIA Seating. This is by no means the most expensive chair out there, but its not a cheapo either. It is a very well-made, highly popular ergonomic chair that is in the $300 to $700 price range. The thing that is great about this chair is that its not a one-size-fits-all solution. When purchasing this chair you have the option of three seat sizes, three back support sizes, four adjustable seat mechanisms, three arm options, and dozens of colors and fabric grades. Depending on which options you choose you can acquire this chair for as low as about $300, or as much as $700 if you choose the very advanced features or high-end fabrics.

VIA Seating is a major player in the ergonomic seating industry and their brand is well-known worldwide. The Terra chair has been the top selling VIA chair for many years, and it is expected to remain so. They are generally not as expensive as brands like Humanscale and Herman Miller, but their product is at just about the same level in terms of quality and durability. The really expensive chairs may have a few extra bells and whistles, and may look a little cooler, but if you're not rich don't feel bad that you can't afford them, you too can be extremely comfortable and productive for about half the price.

If you really want ultra-high quality, and you're willing to pay a little more, go with a chair made by Neutral Posture. They are one of the most well-known and respected names in the chairs business and for a good reason. They provide so many variations and options there's almost no chance you won't find a chair to fit everybody. You can view a line-up of their best-selling models in the Ergonomic Office Chairs category over at ErgoDirectUSA.com. Their pricing is competitive and they offer free shipping on both the VIA Seating and Neutral Posture chairs.

The Neutral Posture 8000 series is the ideal blend of ergonomic comfort and contemporary executive styling. The 8000 series features Neutral Posture's patented pressure reducing seat contours and maximum adjustability including Neutral Posture's unique three-way adjustable armrest. Choose from different seat designs, different adjustment mechanisms and an infinite range of upholstery options to create the ultimate office chair. You even have the option of adding a fully adjustable head rest to any 8000 series model.

Seat height adjustment
The seat height is the very first thing you should adjust. Before you get into the chair, lift the seat height lever and your chair will continue to rise to its maximum height. To adjust the seat height, sit in the chair and raise the lever again, the chair will lower until you release the lever. You'll know the seat height is adjusted properly when your feet are flat on the floor slightly in front of you and there is a slight downward slope to your thighs.

Seat tilt adjustment
The seat tilt or angle should be the second adjustment you make after adjusting the seat height. While sitting in the seat, push the seat tilt lever all the way down and leave it in the downward position. Using your body weight rock the seat forward or backward depending on your task. If your task requires a reclined posture the seat tilt can be left in this free floating, rocking mode. For desktop intensive tasks you can lock the seat tilt in a position that will support a more upright posture. Simply raise the seat tilt lever and lock the seat in place.

Seat tilt tension adjustment
The tension knob that controls the seat tilt should be adjusted from a kneeling position in front of the chair. If while adjusting the seat tilt you feel that the rocking motion is either too stiff or too loose you should adjust the tilt tension for your particular body weight. From a kneeling position in front of the chair first place the seat tilt in its most forward leaning position; this relaxes the main spring of the chair and makes the spring tension knob easier to turn. Then turn the knob to the right to increase the spring in the seat tilt, or turn the knob to the left to loosen the spring tilt tension. It will take several turns of the knob before you will notice any change. There is an arrow with plus and minus indicators on the face of the knob if you need a reference. You'll know the seat tilt tension control is adjusted properly when the chair responds easily to a shift in your body weight while the seat tilt is in the free float position. If you find the seat too easy to move each time you release the seat tilt you need to increase the tension. If you find that you're forcing the chair to rock in the free flow position you should decrease the tension.

Lumbar pump
Neutral Posture's unique lumbar pump allows you to inflate the lumbar portion of the backrest. You should use this when you feel like the backrest is not firm enough, or when the curved portion of the back rest is not making firm contact with the lumbar portion of your back. To use the lumbar pump from a seated position use your right hand to locate the lever at the bottom of the backrest. Leaning firmly against the backrest, use the lever to pump air into the backrest. If the backrest height is adjusted properly you will feel the backrest getting firmer where it makes contact with the lumbar area. Your lumbar is right at your belt line or slightly below it. If the backrest becomes too firm, simply press down on the lever to release some of the air.

Backrest height
The backrest height should be the third adjustment you make immediately after the seat height and seat tilt. From a seated position, lean forward slightly. Reach behind you and grab the outer edges or bottom of the backrest. Simply raise the backrest in half inch increments. You will hear and feel a click each time you move the backrest. There are 8 of these click stops including the bottom position which does not click. When you raise the backrest passed the last stop the backrest will drop down to the lowest position and you can start over. You will know the backrest height is adjusted properly when the contoured shape of the backrest fits into the contoured shape of your back, firmly supporting your upper and lower back when you lean against the backrest.

Backrest depth
After the seat height, seat angle, and backrest height and angle have been adjusted you may find that you cannot get the backrest close enough to your back without sitting so far back on the seat that the front edge of the seat pan touches the soft area behind your knee, or you may find that your legs are so long that you feel like you're barely on the seat. In either case, you can use the backrest depth adjustment to help fix the problem. To adjust the backrest depth, get out of the chair and locate the L-shaped backrest post that connects the seat and back. Flip the cam lever up and slide the entire backrest farther back or closer to the seat. When you get the backrest to the position you think will work best, flip the cam lever back down and lock it into place. This adjustment does not need to be made frequently unless multiple users are sharing the same chair for multiple shifts. You'll know the backrest depth is adjusted properly when the backrest is in a position that allows it to make firm contact with the natural curve of your back without the front of the seat pan touching the soft tissue area behind your knees. The prominent nerves and blood vessels that serve your lower leg run through this small area. If the front edge of the seat puts pressure here it will cause your feet to tingle and fall asleep.

Arm height adjustment
After adjusting the seat height and angle, and backrest height and angle, make sure your arms are properly supported by adjusting the height of the arm rests. Neutral Posture standard armrests allow 4 inch range of height adjustability to ensure an ideal ergonomic fit for your body. To raise or lower the height of the armrest press the button located on the side of the armrest. While squeezing the button move the armrest up or down until it properly supports your arm. To lock the arm rest into place just release the button. There are preset notches that will allow you to position each arm at the same height. You will know the arm rest height is adjusted properly when it fully supports the weight of your arms as you lean against the backrest without pushing her shoulders up. If you feel like your arm is unsupported raise the height so you can rest your arm on the armrest without pushing your shoulders up or allowing them to droop.

Arm angle
The arm pads on your Neutral Posture chair pivot 360°. When you need more forward arm support for tasks such as typing or more rear arm support for reclined tasks such as talking on the phone or conferencing you can easily rotate the arms for maximum support. A 180° rotation of the arm pad produces a front to rear location change of the arm pad of approximately 2 inches. It is very common for thin users to prefer the armrests rotated back and in while larger users may prefer forward and out positions. This is a personal preference that is greatly influenced by posture and upper body position relative to the arm support posts. To rotate the arm pad find the finger indents located on the bottom edge of the arm pad, this is the pivot point for rotation. Firmly grasp the pad and raise it up. This will release the pad from the notches that hold it in place. Pivot the arm pad until you find a position that best supports your arms than simply push down on the pad and lock it into place. You will know the arm pad angle is properly adjusted when you can quickly rest your forearms on the pad as you pause during typing without having to assume an comfortable or awkward posture to do so. Be sure you don't adjust the arm pad height to a position that leads to significant bending of the rests while typing.

Arm width and removal
If you feel that you're having to work with your arms too close to your body you may want to move the armrests out slightly. This will give you more elbow room and allow you to properly function in the chair. From a seated position, follow the arm down the bracket where it connects to the seat. Locate the rubberized knob and loosen it without unscrewing it all the way. Slide the arm bracket out for more elbow room or hip clearance, or in to position the arm pads closer to your body. To lock the arm bracket into place tighten the knob firmly. You will know the armrest width is properly adjusted when your arms are supported comfortably at your side without having to stretch to place them on the arm pads. If the arm pads are making it difficult to get in and out of your chair they probably need to be adjusted outward slightly. You can also remove the arm rests on your chair by unscrewing the knob all the way and sliding the arm out of the bracket. You should only do this if your arms are fully supported by another surface such as a desktop or worktable. If you do remove the arms be sure to replace the knob and washers in the bracket.

Click here to buy Neutral Posture chairs online at ErgoDirectUSA.com - Excellent prices, great service, and FREE shipping! They're an authorized dealer too.

So you're at the point where you are seriously considering the purchase of an ergonomic computer chair. Your back hurts, your body aches, and you've had enough. The best thing you can do is go out and buy the most expensive chair you can afford, right? You should be surprised to know that this is not always the case.

Before you go to the store and buy a chair you need to do a little self-assessment. A quick analysis of your personal behavior will help determine which ergonomic seating devices are most logical and will be the most beneficial. The main consideration is how active you are on a daily basis. Lets face it, if you happen to be someone who works out or plays a sport four or more days a week you are probably in better shape and have stronger muscles than someone who has little physical activity other than being seated. If you are an active person and have fairly strong core muscles (back muscles and abs) you are probably best with a high-end ergonomic chair that has an advanced adjustment mechanism and plush material. So go read up on VIA, Humanscale, and Herman Miller chairs and pick your favorite.

Now if you are someone who is not very active and does not have very strong core body muscles that expensive ergonomic chair is not your best choice. The following advice is not just a random thought, it is actually recommended by chiropractors for many people. Believe it or not, an exercise ball makes a fantastic chair, and will relieve back pain faster than an expensive chair in some scenarios. This is the type of exercise ball that is usually available in 55", 65" and 75" sizes and in a variety of colors. They are normally used for exercise routines but they in fact make great chairs for people who need to strengthen their core muscles or those with frequent back pain. What is does is it makes you sit up straight because if you slouch you will start to roll off of the ball. This sitting up straight posture makes your abs and back muscles work and will over time strengthen your mid body.

Using an exercise ball as a chair also has the health benefit of being an "active sitting" alternative. It is considered active because while you are seated you can gently pivot your hips left and right, and front to back to relieve tension in your spine and give your muscles a light stretch. Some people just cant get used to sitting on an exercise ball at the computer but if you are someone who experiences back pain while sitting it cant hurt you any more to give this a try. An exercise ball will cost you about $20 while most ergonomic chairs range from $200-$1000.

Once you give that a try you may be asking yourself, "hey, this feels great, but how do I stop the ball from rolling all over the place when I stand up?." Well, we have a solution for that - The Original Evolution Exercise Ball Chair - made with a special base on wheels to give you the benefit of sitting in a ball chair with the convenience of a standard office chair (the stability, and the wheels).

Click here to buy the Evolution Ball Chair at SitBetter.com - Great price, friendly service, and FREE shipping!

There are many basic principles involved in the design of an ergonomic task chair, most of which are very easy to understand. A good chair is important because nowadays most of us spend of a good portion of every day working on the computer, or using it for our entertainment. Its hard to ignore that almost everywhere you go you see people sitting in chairs that look cheap, old, flimsy and just plain inadequate for daily use. Investing in the right ergonomic chair will reward you with increased comfort and productivity at the computer and a decreased risk of developing any serious conditions in the future.

A high quality task chair will always be available in custom configurations, because lets face it if you're going to spend upwards of $500 or $1000 on a new chair it better be customized to your specific body size and shape. The one-size-fits-all approach only applies to the less expensive chairs, usually under $200, but there are a few decent manufacturers producing good chairs in this price range. However, you need to make sure you take some measurements of your current chair so that you know whether or not you need to go larger or smaller with a new one. This refers to the actual dimensions of the seat cushion and the back rest (or sometimes called the back support). Premium brands like Herman Miller, Humanscale and VIA Seating offer multiple size combinations with almost all of their products.

The material of the chair is not very important in terms of ergonomics but the firmness of the cushions are something to consider. Most chiropractors usually recommend sitting on the hardest surface you can handle when you are going to be seated for long periods of time. Sometimes referring to a wooden bench as a better alternative than a good ergonomic chair, they cannot always be taken literally, but the concept behind the idea is true. It is actually better for your back to sit on a firm surface rather than a really cushy one. Extremely soft chairs may be ok for lounging but if you're going to be doing work you need a nice firm seat cushion to help strengthen your back and prevent it from going out of alignment.

Having arm rests on the chair are almost always optional and it is purely up to your personal preference. However, if you do choose a chair with adjustable arms just be conscious of how often you are resting your forearms on the pads, because too much leaning will cause problems to arise in your neck and shoulders. There are many other great ergonomic products on the market that can really help make computing safer and more comfortable. After purchasing a new chair, think about looking into a new ergonomic keyboard, ergonomic mouse and adjustable keyboard tray. Those are the most popular initial upgrades to any workstation. If you need portability in your peripherals you can also opt for a curved wireless keyboard and mouse combo or an ergonomic bluetooth mouse. As far as eyewear there is a new company called Gunnar Optiks that just released their high-tech computer glasses that specifically designed to prevent Computer Vision Syndrome and Digital Eye Fatigue. All in all, buying a good task chair is a major step towards a healthier, happier work environment.

There are a few different main types of ergonomic office chairs and each type must be chosen carefully to match your daily routine. Many people assume they can buy one type of chair and use it for various functions throughout the day. While this is possible, and most people do it, it is not necessarily the right way to go about the situation if you're trying to be conscious of ergonomics.

If you sit at a desk most of your day you probably fall into one of two categories: those who are computer-task oriented whose main job function involves direct computer desk most of the day, and those who could be supervisors, managers or executives who sit at their desk most of the day but do not actually sit there doing computer work as much as others. Ergonomic seating is available to fit each of these user types.

For the task-oriented computer user who does computer work for 4 or more hours per day you need to look for what is commonly called an "ergonomic task chair". These types of ergonomic chairs are specifically designed for heavy computer use on a daily basis. They take into account how the human body should be positioned (your posture) during this type of job function and incorporate body supporting features into their designs. Good ergonomic task chairs worth spending your money on are in the $200-$800 price range. Prices depend not only on the brand but the size of the seat and back cushions, the fabric the chair is made of, and the mechanism the adjustments of the chair are controlled by.

For the supervisor/manager/executive computer user who does actual computer work for less than 4 hours a day you need to look for "ergonomic executive chairs". The term executive in the title is the term used to describe an ergonomic chair designed for these types of individuals. Ergonomic executive chairs are designed to support the user while doing computer work, like an ergonomic task chair does, but it also doubles as a posture-assisting chair for meetings, conferences, and other situations where you may be seated for an extended period but not actually working on the computer the entire time. Executive chairs tend to be slightly more expensive than task chairs and their prices are determined by all of the same characteristics. A good executive ergonomic chair can be purchased for about $250-$1200.

The Mirra Chair by Herman Miller is an ultra-premium ergonomic chair in the price range of $600 to $800. The final price is determined by what options you choose which is a common practice among office chair manufacturers. If you're looking to buy one of these you may have been on Herman Miller's website already and realized you won't find anything but chair-hype over there. Let's face it, that's normal, but if you're going to spend that much money you'll want to know what other people who already bought it think about it. Read on...

First lets briefly go over the main features. It's an eco-friendly chair made of 42% recycled materials, without any PVC, and when the chair's life is over (hopefully very far into the future) its 96% recyclable. Its Greenguard certified if that matters to you. It has a one-piece frameless back rest with a large amount of holes in it and 3 separate flex zones. The "TriFlex" back support is elastic and pliable so it easily accommodates people of different sizes. The "PostureFit" feature is supposed to help prevent you from slouching in your seat by keeping your lower back properly aligned. The "AirWeave" suspension seat is aerated to keep you cool and it distributes the pressure of your body evenly. To prevent there from ever being a gap between the seat and back rest the "FlexFront" seat edge adjusts the depth of the seat without moving its pan, so you'll have that extra support for your spine that other chairs just cant give. It has what they call a "Harmonic tilt mechanism" which keeps the resistance constant through the entire reclining range. This makes movement in the Mirra chair smooth and balanced at all times.

Here are all the adjustments you can make with the standard mechanism: Lumbar, Arm angle, Arm width, Arm height, Forward tilt, Tilt limiter, Tilt tension, Seat depth and Seat height. Wow... that is pretty thorough compared to the cheaper ergonomic chairs on the market. Keep in mind though that all of the adjustments we just listed only apply to the fully loaded Mirra, the basic model has fewer controls.

Now we move on to the part where you really find out what others think about the Mirra. We took the time to read through dozens of user reviews and we broke it down into two simple lists for you weighing the benefits and disadvantages:

PROS

• Most people say its one of the most comfortable chairs they've ever sat in.
• It has a sleek, sexy, sophisticated look.
• It's easy to assemble - just slide the backrest into place and tighten two bolts.
• It provides a huge array of adjustments (the fully loaded model).
• It can conform to different users easily because of its 'flexible' design.
• Some people even find it more comfortable than the Aeron, the more expensive sibling.
• Most users love it even through 8-12 hours of daily use.

CONS

• Some users don't like the mesh seat and report pressure on the hamstring area.
• Some people don't like the rigidity of the back.
• May be uncomfortable for people who are petite (under 110lbs and/or under 5'2").
• Some report that the two main installation screws don't fit properly or come loose easily.

Click here to buy the Mirra Chair online at OfficeDesigns.com - They are a fully authorized Herman Miller dealer with fantastic customer service, and their low prices with FREE shipping can't be beat.