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Often times, buying a new office chair doesn’t get the attention it deserves. In fact, the majority of people likely spend more time (and money) choosing a desk. What they fail to take into account is that if you work 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year, you will be spending 10,000 hours in that chair for the next five years.
Why is it important to know a little about your work habits and your office before buying an office chair?
Knowing what you are using the office chair for and how to use it are probably the two most important factors that should influence your purchasing decision.
If you’re an executive who spends part of the day in front of your computer, but also spends long hours in meetings with colleagues and visitors, you definitely need this a fully adjustable chair This allows you to sit back and look relaxed and friendly when someone is on the opposite side of the desk. However, when you work on your computer, you get the neck, shoulder, and back support you need.
Someone who uses their office chair solely for computer work should do so Put more emphasis on ergonomics (see below).
What is ergonomics and how does it affect me when choosing an office chair?
Ergonomics is the science (or art if you wish) of Design your workplace so that efficiency and comfort are optimized and the risk of injury is minimized. The whole thing can get extremely academic. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if there are people who have PhDs in ergonomics.
Since this is not a science class, we’ll try to keep things more practical. The following are the main ergonomic factors to consider when choosing an office chair:
The 90 degree rule
Dr. Matt Tanneberg of the University of Pittsburgh says a red flag is that an office chair may not suit you if your knees, hips, and ankles aren’t comfortably resting at a 90-degree angle. In other words. If your hips aren’t at a 90-degree angle, the chair is likely too short or too long for you. The same goes for the ankles and knees. All joints should preferably stay at a 90-degree angle.
backrest
The important thing here is that the backrest should be adjustable. You may find it comfortable to sit in the chair for two minutes, but after five hours you may feel different. The backrest should also properly support the curve in your lower back. As a general rule, The backrest should follow the shape of your spine. The back of the chair should be Reach at least as high as the center of your shoulder blades to adequately support this section of your back. It is even better if it reaches over your shoulders.
Feet
Feet should be comfortable rest flat on the floor. If not, make sure the chair has a footrest. Otherwise, your feet could be kicking in the air like a toddler on his father’s office chair – both uncomfortable and weird.
Armrests
Armrests should be fair close to your body. Obviously, you don’t want the experience to feel like being squeezed together by a gorilla, but your arms should be able to comfortably rest on both armrests. Otherwise, you will put a lot of strain on your shoulders and neck. Read that again. You have no idea how many Millions of people suffer from constant neck and shoulder pain because their office chairs force them into unnatural positions.
You also need to be at a comfortable height. Armrests with adjustable height settings are a good idea in this regard. If you do a lot of computer work, and depending on your desk configuration, consider armrests that allow you to get as close to your desk as possible.
Is an office chair without armrests a good idea? The short answer is no. If your budget is extremely limited, it might occur to you to skip the armrests entirely. You will certainly save money, but without this vital arm and shoulder support, you will pay later – in terms of both dollars and pain and suffering.
Seat
The seat of the chair is, of course, the area where most of your weight will rest 10,000 hours over the next five years. There are two important principles here:
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Size. The seat shouldn’t be too short or too long. This of course depends on the length of your thigh so all you have to do is sit down and make sure goes up to a few inches behind the knee. Two to four inches behind the hollow of the knee is generally considered a good average.
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Seat material / cover. If you save in this area, both your bum and lower back will pay the price going forward. Memory foam remains one of the best choices as it just doesn’t wear out as quickly as ordinary foam. The cover of an office chair should be easy to the touch. Avoid abrasive materials or materials that could cause your body to overheat or cause itching. A medium-texture breathable cover should eliminate most of the above.
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Shape. You can stimulate blood flow to your legs by choosing a seat edge that is slightly rounded and slopes downwards. The University of Pittsburgh calls this a “waterfall front”. Avoid anything with a sharp edge like the plague.
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Thickness. It’s easy to make a mistake here. It doesn’t matter whether the seat is made of memory foam or not. If he’s too thin, it can cause significant discomfort. In this regard Take your body weight into account and the size and shape of your floor. If you have a thin, pert behind you, you should be able to sit comfortably in a medium-thick seat, but larger floors are more weight and require more cushioning support.
How important is it for an office chair to be adjustable?
Of course, when you’re buying an office chair for a specific person who will use it for a specific type of work at a specific desk, being able to customize it isn’t as important as when you are buying one Used by more than one person for a variety of tasks over a period of time.
Modern office chairs often offer a variety of adjustment mechanisms, including Movable lumbar support, adjustment of the tilt tension and control of the tilt angle.
A swivel chair is also equipped roll allows you to move from one part of your desk to another with ease. The same is true if you have a printer or other modern electronic device that isn’t on your desk and you often want easy access to it without having to get up all the time.
What role should aesthetics play when buying an office chair?
For some people, what the chair looks like is of the utmost importance, for others it is less important. However, there are a few points that all office chair buyers could benefit from:
Your office furniture
If you have a fairly large office with a tasteful, timeless ambience, come with a chair a more traditional design covered in leather or maybe good imitation art could be a good choice. The situation is different if you e.g. For example, you’re the female design manager in a modern advertising studio and the rest of your office says, “I’m a millennial. I’m chic, I’m in ”. In this case A very modern chair in trendy colors should do the trick.
Your point of view
It’s not hard to imagine how your job could affect your choice of office chair. We addressed this in the previous paragraph. Your office chair says something about you. So make sure he says what you want.
If you’re the CEO of Microsoft, your office chair should shout, “I’m the boss. I’m a nice guy to a point. But I don’t play around. ” Think Fully adjustable, thickly padded, neutral colors that convey a sense of quality, reliability and authority.
As a junior manager, when you choose an office chair for your first real office after years of living in a cubicle, you probably want your chair to say, “Watch me. I’m on my way up even though I’m not quite there yet. ” Modern design, lighter colors than the boss’s office chairand contemporary materials should do it.
How often should I replace my office chair?
Experts recommend that you replace your office chair every five years However, this can depend on many factors including the number of hours the chair is used during an average week, the weight of the incumbent, how often he or she jumps up and down or swings the chair, or as a trampoline.
The golden rule is The moment you start developing all sorts of pain In your back, shoulders, or neck, it may be time to replace your office chair.
When you consider the general guidelines and tips above when choosing an office chair, you can look forward to years of satisfactory service. It’s not rocket science, in fact, office chair hunting could be a lot of fun. Enjoy!
