The Lowdown on Office Chair Ergonomics

When working in an office environment and sitting for long periods of time, most of us tend not to consider the conditions in which we are sitting. The importance of possessing good seat posture and how it is highly beneficial for your health is often overlooked.

Ensuring you are sitting in a quality office chair that is set up correctly is essential. Maximising comfort whilst providing your body with a good level of support is crucial for your health, especially when you are spending prolonged time sitting down.

Incorrect Positioning of Your Chair Can Have a Negative Impact on Your Body

Whilst it may go unnoticed for a period of time, sitting in a chair that is not ergonomically suitable for your body can have a negative effect on your health. To minimise the risk, it is good practice to ensure the ergonomics of a new chair are correct before you begin working. Benefits of this include:

• Optimum comfort
• Posture support
• Reduced pressure on the spine and hips
• Improved blood flow

In turn, these provide you with a reduced risk of shoulder, neck and back pain as well as a reduction of difficulties such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

How Can I Improve the Ergonomics of My Chair?

An ergonomic chair is one that is ‘designed for efficiency and comfort in the working environment’. To make a chair ergonomic, one would have to ensure certain aspects are aligned with individual requirements. These include:

Seat height adjustment

Your arms should be in line with your desk and feet should sit flat and comfortable on the floor. If your feet are not in this position and you are unable to adjust the height of your desk, then you will benefit from a footrest.

Back support adjustment

The back of your chair should be adjustable to provide optimal support to the lumbar region of your spine. Generally, this should match the contour of your back and support your spine as you move throughout the day.

Seat Width and Depth

An ergonomic chair will have a seat slider and this adjustment will determine how much support your legs receive. If your seat is too far forward, the knees will be subject to excess pressure.

Aside from the aspects mentioned in detail, several other ergonomic elements of a chair need to be adjusted to your requirements to optimise your seat posture. In the workplace, you’ll often find personnel who are trained to complete chair inspections and change settings to your requirements.

Hurdleys Office Furniture Offers a Plentiful Selection of Ergonomic Chairs

With decades of experience in selling office furniture, Hurdleys are experts in ergonomic chairs. With products of varying sizes, colours, materials and accessories including arm rests and headrests available, you are sure to find the best chair for you and your individual needs.

We promise quality alongside affordability and supply thousands of businesses with ergonomic chairs. Healthy workers are happy workers and at Hurdleys, we are proud to support workforces all around New Zealand. With a determination to provide great levels of customer satisfaction, we go above and beyond to meet your requirements and fulfil your needs.

Choose the Right Chair for You

Every day that is spent sitting on an inadequate chair can be detrimental to the body. Put your health first by choosing to work with the support of an ergonomic office chair or even a standing desk. Browse our collection or visit our furniture store in Auckland now!