#WorkWell: Why is Having an Ergonomic Office Chair Important?

Did you know the average person spends approximately 40 hours per week at work? For many of us, performing our job requires us to be seated at a desk. With so many hours spent sitting at your office desk, having the right office chair is essential in order to ensure comfort and minimise the risk of work-related injuries to your body while boosting productivity and morale.

Why is having an ergonomic office chairs important?

Nobody likes to be uncomfortable. Studies show that 74% of workers experience pain at their desk a few times a week. Whether at the office or working from home, if your job requires you to remain seated for long periods of time, having the right chair is a must.

According to Dale Kennedy, Certified Professional Ergonomist at Ergomax, when it comes to investing in an ergonomic office chair, you should always buy the best you can with the money you have.

“If you spend most of the workday (four to eight hours) sitting in a task chair, it will be in your best interest to get the best chair you can afford,” Dale explains.

Not only does the right chair help to provide better support to your spine, it conforms to your body’s specific shape and assists in keeping your muscles and tissue in a more natural and neutral position. And because you can adjust the seat height and armrests, an ergonomic chair can easily be customised to fit your individual needs while also ensuring adequate seat width and depth for your body.

By reducing the stress and distraction of pain and discomfort, you will be able to improve your focus allowing you to bolster productivity levels and increase your output, which makes for more productive and rewarding workdays.

Key considerations when choosing the perfect office chair

Height adjustability

According to Dale, height adjustability is one of the most important considerations when purchasing a new office chair. You’ll know your chair is at the correct height when your elbows are in line with the desk surface you are using.

Ideally, your knees should be lower than your hips, so that your lower back is in the optimal position to withstand compression force, and your feet should be fully supported. If necessary, use a footrest to assist with this. 

Lumbar adjustability and support

In order of importance, lumbar support is a close second when seeking out the perfect office chair for your home office or workplace. Lumbar adjustability allows you to move the backrest of the chair to ensure you are getting adequate lumbar support, which helps to keep the pressure off your lower discs and reduce the risk of lower back pain.

Adjustable armrests

Adjustable armrests allow you to move them up and down so they can support your arms and reduce pressure on your back. However, if you can’t find a chair with this feature, Dale recommends avoiding fixed armrests and instead purchasing a chair without armrests. This is because fixed armrests can prevent you from sitting at the right height. 

Purchase the Adapt Black Certified Ergonomic Office Chair with adjustable armrests, lumbar support and height.

Seat pan

As no two bodies are exactly alike, we all have different heights and shapes which need to be accommodated when seated in an office chair – unfortunately fixed seating pans tend to overlook this fact.

If possible, opt for a soft/adjustable seat pan. Shorter people tend to require less length. If a seat pan is too high for your body, you may feel increased pressure behind your knees and will find yourself being forced to sit on the edge of your seat, which prevents your back from being fully supported. Ideally, you want a chair with 5–8 cm of seat pan movement in order to ensure your knees are positioned correctly and that you are getting the most out of the chair’s lumbar support.

Looking to purchase a certified ergonomic office chair? Browse our range of office chairs today to find the perfect chair for you.