If you spend hours at a desk each week, you may want to consider the benefits that ergonomic office chairs can bring you in the long run. Ergonomics refers to the application of scientific research and information to the design process of objects, thus making them more comfortable and efficient to use. In terms of seating, ergonomic office chairs are chairs that should support the correct parts of your body and encourage you to sit with good posture. You should be comfortable, but not in a position that could cause damage to your spine. Millions of work days are lost each year due to back injuries and therefore it is important that chairs provide adequate back support. Back pain is the number one reason people take days off every year, but with the right education and seating we can significantly reduce it.

So what exactly should ergonomic office chairs do to make your sitting experience more comfortable? There are three main factors that help make an office chair comfortable and supportive:

1. The natural ‘S’ shape of the spine should be maintained at all times without any muscular tension, and the load on the spine should be minimized as much as possible.
2. Circulation to the thighs should not be restricted, particularly by the width of the chair.
3. The chair user’s posture should not require much muscular effort to maintain.

If a chair doesn’t meet these factors, the user can end up with permanent back damage that could cause problems for the rest of their life. The user is responsible for how they sit, but ergonomic office chairs should do everything they can to promote good sitting technique.

When looking for ergonomic office chairs, you should look for certain features that will help you find the most comfortable sitting position. These should fit your needs. These include:

Seat height: This is arguably the most important thing to change when you get a new seat. Make sure your feet are flat on the ground without putting pressure on the back of your thighs. This could restrict the blood supply to the lower legs and cause long-term damage.

Back support: It is important that the back supports the middle or lower back and allows the arms to move freely. This is of great importance as it helps maintain the natural curvature of the spine. The backrest should also tilt and offer some give when you lean back to allow you to assume several different postures. If you don’t, it can cause constriction and reduce blood supply to the muscles in your limbs.

Seat depth – This is also an important factor to consider. Ergonomic office chairs should allow you to sit right at the back of your seat without crushing the backs of your knees against the surface. You should sit back in the chair to ensure your spine is properly supported.