If you're looking for a good office chair, you’ll want to base your
decision on some important factors.
Whether you want to find a good chair for yourself or your employees, you’ll
want the chair to be comfortable and safe. You and your workers sit eight hours
a day, usually in front of a computer, and you don’t want the sitting experience
to detract from work. Work is hard enough without the distraction of discomfort
and reduced productivity.
When purchasing a new office chair, ask for a trial period to make sure you’re
getting what you want for the money. Many distributors will offer a week of free
trial. There’s no substitute for trying it out. If the chair turns out not to be
as comfortable as it looks, you can return it. It’s not always possible to go by
appearance or to judge after just a few minutes of sitting in it.
Here are some features of a good office chair that you should look for.
Make sure it has a backrest adjustment. A backrest adjustment can prevent or
lessen the discomfort caused by sitting for long periods of time. You should
look for a backrest with adjustable height, since height will vary from person
to person. The backrest should also provide the user with maximum support to the
lower portion of his or her back.
The backrest tilt allows the user to recline (lean back), incline (lean
forward), and adopt various postures in between these two positions. Most people
find that a slight reclining position is the most comfortable.
The horizontal movement of the backrest refers to the ability to move backward
and forward. Unlike the tilt feature, this feature is used to increase or
decrease the distance between the back of the chair and the seat. Not all chairs
have this feature, and even though it may cost extra, it will provide further
comfort to many individuals.
All office chairs must have a height adjustment feature. People with longer legs
need to have the chair seat higher than people with shorter legs. For maximum
comfort, the thighs should be parallel with the floor and the feet flat.
Otherwise, leg cramps and back problems can result.
The seat pan characteristics are important. Look for a seat pan with adequate
depth and width. The material should be comfortable but firm and offer
sufficient support. In addition, the seat pan should be able to tilt to
alleviate pressure on the back of the thighs.
Armrests should not interfere with the movements required for work, but they
should be comfortable and provide support for the arms. If wide arm movements
are required to perform tasks, a chair without armrests would be better.
The chair should be stable. You don't want a chair that is wobbly or easy to
turn over when in the reclined position. To ensure that a chair is stable, look
for a chair with a five-pronged base.
If you follow the above tips, you should have no trouble finding the chair that
is right for your office. |
