Best Ergonomic Chair - 7 Buying Tips
If you just want to cut to the chase and find the best chair we suggest you use the chart above to see what's ideal for your height and weight, otherwise you should read our short article about VIA Seating - our brand of choice that we use daily and always recommend to others. When you're ready to buy you should check out ErgoDirectUSA.com - they offer free shipping on both the VIA and NPS models and you won't pay any sales tax if you're located outside NY.
Choosing the best ergonomic chair for the shape of your individual body is not an easy feat, but with some vigilant research and the educated advice of others you will find the chair you've been waiting for. The tips below will provide you with a basis of what to look when choosing an ergonomic chair, whether for at home or the office.
Tip #1: All ergonomic chairs are not the same. The saying "you get what you pay for" absolutely applies to ergonomic chairs. Ergonomic chairs range in price from about $100.00 to over and above $1,000.00 and every price point in between. Some will fail in one way or another within a year and some will last a lifetime. Make sure you spend as much as you can if you want to purchase the best, most comfortable ergonomic chair for you.
Tip #2: Many different users cannot sit in the same chair comfortably. When shopping for an ergonomic chair you need to look for the most adjustable features. This will make it easier to adjust the chair to your body type and if the chair you buy is going to be used by other people it also will make adjusting it to fit their body types as easy as possible.
Tip #3: Be aware of the size and shape of the seat cushion and back rest of the chairs you look at. Most office chair manufacturers have multiple seat sizes available and they provide measurements of each size so you can match it with your body size. This is the main area ergonomic chairs are different from regular computer chairs because regular chairs usually do not come in multiple sizes.
Tip #4: Is the height and tilt of the seat cushion adjustable? Most chairs, regular or ergonomic, have the ability to adjust the seat height, but adjustable tilt of the seat cushion is a feature that usually only ergonomic chairs come with. Setting the seat cushion tilt to a comfortable position allows for even greater versatility than height adjustment by itself.
Tip #5: is the depth of the back cushion adjustable to multiple positions? If it only stays in one place then the chair is not very ergonomic so most ergonomic chair manufacturers build in features for you to adjust the depth, or tilt, of your back support cushion. When sitting for long hours at the computer an adjustable back rest can mean a world of a difference.
Tip #6: Look for the adjustable chair arms feature and you'll really start to figure out why ergonomics chairs are so special. Adjustable arms let you change the height and tilt of the arms so they can fit users of varying sizes and seating habits.
Tip #7: Make certain the chair you purchase comes with a good warranty, backed by the manufacturer. Good chair manufacturers will always include at least a 1-year warranty and they stand behind their products 100%, it's the less expensive brands that end up costing you more in the long run between chair replacement and your own personal comfort and productivity. Probably the best ergonomic chairs available today are made by VIA Seating and Neutral Posture, in terms of quality and value. We recommend the Terra chair by VIA and the 8000 Series by Neutral Posture.
HON Chairs
HON chairs are very popular, but do not necessarily have the best ergonomic designs you can get. Their brand name is well-known & wide-spread and the products they offer vary widely in price, but most are fairly inexpensive compared to other manufacturers of office seating. Models are offered in a variety of common styles:
Ergonomic
Task
Executive
Guest
Folding
Ergonomic Furniture
In the last decade, we have changed our approach to buying ergonomic furniture for our homes and offices. Today, everything is ergonomically oriented. However, buying just a single chair which provides good posture, balance and less stress on the body is not the adequate. To ensure that musculoskeletal injuries are going to be prevented, one must buy additional furniture components which are also responsible in decreasing stress and work related injury. One classic example is the computer desk.
Once you are seated on an ergonomically designed chair and work with a computer, the height of the chair must be adjusted accordingly. It is important to place the computer monitor at a level where it does not produce stress on the eyes or the hands. The top of the screen should be ideally set just below eye level. When sitting upright, this positioning will not produce any neck, shoulder or eye stress.
Additional measures that can eliminate eye strain include:
- keeping the computer screen clean
- adjusting the screen resolution so one gets clear sharp images
- placing the monitor at an optimal distance from the chair to avoid eye stress
- adjust lighting in the room to avoid glares
- placing a document holder at the same distance as the monitor
For those individuals who wear eye glasses or wear bifocals, tilting of the head may be required periodically. Thus, the ergonomically designed hair and desk must be properly adjusted so that the neck is not stressed. The most important thing to understand is that the furniture must be adjusted to fit your posture and reduce stress on your joints.
Ergonomic Computer Desk
Today almost everyone sits at the computer- both at home and at work. The amount of time spent at the computer by almost all individuals is increasing on a monthly basis. We have all become an internet addicted society. However, sitting at a computer desk for hours is not good for health and many individuals have developed problems with their neck, upper arm, hands, wrist and fingers. Many of these individuals have had to wear splints, braces and take time off work.
Well, ergonomics has now come into play. Just like ergonomic office chairs we now have an ergonomically designed computer desks with adjustable keyboards, large spaces for writing and a well lit keyboard. Previously using a fixed keyboard with small cramped keys and poor lighting caused a lot of stress on individuals. The latest designs of computer desks are roomier, provide adequate room for a printer, speaker, books and also allow one to rest their hands on the desk if so desired.
The ergonomically designed computer desks come in a variety of shapes, styles and sizes. The aim of all these products is to reduce the stresses on the hands, fingers and neck during work or while playing on the computer. Most experts recommend using a rolling ergonomically designed chair to be used with a computer desk to obtain the best health benefits and prevent worsening of any existing injury.
Ergonomic Computer Furniture
The subject of ergonomic computer furniture is a major topic of discussion at work. For years it was not realized that there was a significant mismatch between the human and the physical requirements at work. Over the past 5 decades, this has resulted in millions of muscular-skeletal problems, loss of earning potential and worker inefficiency. This has all changed with the concept of ergonomics.
The occupational health and safety agency (OSHA) has been implementing programs that have required many industries and business to establish ergonomically designed furniture to prevent these skeletal injuries. Besides worker safety, what has become well known is that properly designed furniture is essential for health and prevention of diseases.
To implement OHSA polices, many companies have started to address the issues by starting to develop effective ergonomic programs like:
- making available adjustable furniture to prevent stress on the neck, back hands and legs
- giving employers breaks from repetitive work like typing making available custom designed ergonomic chairs which provide neck and back support
- allow for more flexible desks with more leg room, desks with easy access to the telephone, mouse and directory
Most of the ergonomically designed furniture has made a major difference in workers health and comfort. Today, almost every type of furniture is available to help reduce muscular-skeletal injuries for both the office and the home
Ergonomic Office Furniture
To get the most out of your ergonomic office furniture, one has to understand how it works and what are the best positions for your body. The only way to eliminate poor posture and its health consequences is to pay attention to pose. The ergonomic chair allows one to carefully position the head, neck, back, shoulders and thighs. Once the arms are relaxed on the arm rest and the back is supported, the entire body will feel relaxed.
The use of an ergonomic chair must be used with some degree of common sense. One should adjust the posture every now and then to determine which position is best suited for your body. For different functions, different postures may be required. When using a keyboard, the arms should be easily rested on the table and the keys should be struck with minimal effort. Most individuals who develop carpal tunnel syndrome do so because of excessive use of the hands and improper positioning of the wrist joint. The one way to avoid wrist pain is to maintain the wrist in a slightly flexed/neutral position with the hand slightly extended. This allows for free movement of the fingers.
While sitting on a chair, all the items on the desk such as a telephone directory, telephone and other paper work should be within reach with causing too much arm extension. Another important factor is to avoid resting the elbows or wrist on the hard table surface. This is a major cause of bone and muscle pain which accounts for significant morbidity. All hard surfaces on the table should be padded.
Anyone who works in the office for prolonged hours should take frequent breaks and stretch the arms. This will not only help ease pain but prevent the swelling in the legs. Most Companies who make ergonomically designed furniture offer seminars on how to best use their products.