Ergonomic Chairs

There are a slew of different types of jobs and occupations out there that involve being seated for extended periods of time. Lucky for us, ergonomic seating is available in just as many forms. For most people their work day consists of sitting in front of a computer screen for hours on end, doing one thing or another depending on their job role. Ergonomic computer chairs and ergonomic task chairs target just these users. These types of chairs are designed specifically for those spending long hours on the computer and provide added support in key areas of your body.

Some people have to sit around all day in an office setting but don't necessarily work on the computer most of the time. For these lucky individuals there are ergonomic office chairs and executive ergonomic chairs that provide added support like the task chairs do, but tend to be a little more comfortable and cushy, since they are not designed for straight computer use.

Those are the two most common types of individuals who look for ergonomic office seating but there are a variety of other chairs manufactured for those who don't have such a typical job function. Industrial workers, artists, people who hand-manufacture items, and dentists are other examples of people who can benefit from ergonomic seating. For these people there is specialized seating available such as ergonomic stools, ergonomic knee chairs (sometimes called ergonomic kneeling chairs), ergonomic ball chairs, and ergonomic  drafting chairs. They even make ergonomic lounge chairs for those lucky enough to be able to kick back and relax in the middle of their work day!

The best ergonomic chairs are going to cost you, so you better be prepared. It is extremely hard to accept the fact that any old computer chair you get at Staples, Costco, Office Max or wherever is just not going to cut it if you sit on it every day for hours on end. Companies that manufacture cheap chairs are catching on that people want a comfortable chair but don't want to spend hundreds of dollars, so what's happening is they create chairs that appear to be comfortable and ergonomic but the truth is it is just as cheaply made as the others.

This creates many disappointed consumers because they see the nice looking chair for $100 or $200 and they buy it, and then anywhere from 2 to 6 months later they hate it and they're no more comfortable than they were before they bought it. Usually what happens with cheap chairs is the pneumatic cylinder begins to weaken and the chair sinks down when you sit in it. That's the first sign that you need a different chair.

Please don't be fooled. Just because a chair looks like it's ergonomic does not mean it's actually ergonomic and well-made. Ergonomic chairs are not cheap so don't expect to get a real one for under $200. What makes a good ergonomic chair that's worth spending a small fortune on? Good question, there are a few things to keep in mind when you finally decide to make a purchase.

First, you have to decide what your budget is. If you've never been chair shopping here's a general guideline: decent ergonomic chairs will cost you $200 to $400; good chairs will cost you $400 to $600; and excellent chairs can be found for anywhere between $600 and $1400+. There are decent manufacturers that make good chairs in each of those price ranges.

Next, you have to come to terms with the type of chair you are going to get for the price. It basically follows the same rule as everything else in this world - you get what you pay for. Ergonomic chairs on the lower end of the price scale have good solid features, but only moderate research and testing was put into the design. The fact is really good chairs require a lot of research, testing and designing by highly qualified individuals, which is why they cost so much. You will still get a good chair that will last you a couple of years if you stay within the $200-$400 range; it makes a good starter chair. During this period you will get accustomed to the luxuries a good chair provides but after time you may not be fully satisfied with your comfort level if you use the computer heavily every day, and you may find yourself yearning for more.

It's usually a good idea to refrain from buying a $1000 chair your first time around because you won't fully appreciate its design and all of its features until you've experienced a $400 chair. It's like jumping from a Honda to a Maserati - get the BMW first.

Quick examples of good quality chairs in each price range include:

• VIA Seating - very good chairs in the $200-$500 range
• Balt Inc - decent chairs in the $200-$400 range
• Safco - decent chairs in the $200-$500 range
• ErgoHuman - good chairs in the $500-$700 range
• Steelcase - good chairs in the $500-$700 range
• Herman Miller - excellent chairs above $700
• Humanscale - excellent chairs above $700
• Neutral Posture - great models between ~$600-$1000

If you just want to cut to the chase and find the best chair we suggest you look into those that appear to the right in our sidebar. These are all top-of-the-line chairs that you can't go wrong with, and you get what you pay for. Otherwise if you're on a budget but still want a good chair you should read our short article about VIA Seating - a brand most of our employees use daily and one we easily recommend to others. When you're ready to buy you should check out ErgoDirectUSA.com - they offer free shipping on both the VIA and Neutral Posture 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 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 shown below:

Click here to browse through a variety of HON chairs at SitBetter.com - They have great pricing and offer FREE shipping on all HON models.

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.

Shop for Ergonomic Desks and workstations at ErgoDirectUSA.com - The desks they offer are made by Balt, the most well-known and dependable brand of computer furniture. Free shipping too!

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.