What a Pain!

Sitting at your desk 8+ hours a day, five days a week is uncomfortable at best and can be quite painful.  Sitting too long has become an increasing problem in the average office.  However, this issue is exacerbated by the many, many ill-fitting office chairs found in today’s workforce.   A good office chair that adjusts to fit your body size is an essential piece to your health and office productivity.  
 

One of the most important things to look for in an office chair is its ability to be adjusted.  Humans don’t come in one size and therefore your desk chair should not be set to fit an average sized person.  Just think about the variety in sizes of the people who work in your office.  Could you determine what chair setting would work for all of them?  The answer is, probably not.  It is essential for your desk chair to first be adjustable.  The ability to adjust the arm rests, the chair back, the chair seat, and the chair’s height can make the difference between comfort and pain.  

Even though adjustability is one of the dominate factors in making your chair more comfortable, there are other factors to consider.  Below is a list and short synopsis of things that make a difference in comfort for traditional office chairs.

1.      Seat height.  Choose a chair that is easy to adjust as you are sitting in it.  The seat height should be 16”-21”.  Be sure that the seat height allows you to place your feet flat on the floor.  If your feet are not able to sit flat on the floor, consider using a foot rest.

2.      Seat width and depth.  A good seat width is 17”-20”.  To see what width is good for you, sit with your back against the chair and note if there is at least 2”-4” between the back of your knees and the edge of the seat.  You’ll also want to look for a chair that has a seat edge that cascades toward the floor.

3.      Lumbar support.  The lumbar spine has an inward curve.  Sitting for a long time with no support can lead to slouching which flattens the curve and puts strain on the spine structure.  Your office chair should have a back rest that is between 12”-19” wide and be adjustable.

4.      Material padding.  While an executive, leather office chair sounds very luxurious, it may not be the best option for you.  Cloth tends to breathe better and is usually more comfortable.  You’ll also want to be sure your chair has an adequate amount of padding for comfort.

5.      Armrests.  Armrests should be adjusted so that your shoulders rest comfortably in a relaxed manner.  The perfect adjustment allows elbows and lower arms to rest lightly while the forearm is not on the rest while typing.  Some chairs come with short armrests that make it easier to get close to your work.

6.      Swivel.  The office chair should rotate easily so you are able to reach other areas of the desk without straining.

Two of our favorite brands in desk chairs are HON and Safeco.  Both companies have invested in creating ergonomic office furniture that can be adjusted and customized to fit your needs.

They provide traditional work chairs as well as task chairs and stools.  Safeco’s Big & Tall Executive High-back Chair is made a bit larger for those who need a bit of extra space. 

During November 2012, Great River Office Products is running special pricing on these great chairs.  Check out our selections at www.greatriverofficeproducts.com.