It has been statistically proven that the modern, sedentary man is sicker, fatter and more depressed than his predecessors whose daily activity was based on movement. Under these conditions, employers should make efforts to make the work of employees more efficient, as is evident from the article “Benefits for employees”.
Because nowadays 70% of people work in sitting position should not be neglected choosing a good desk chair, to be specially designed to correctly support the weight of the body, providing lumbar support, personalized height adjustment and a correct angle of inclination of the body. Comfort is the key to success in choosing an ergonomic office chair, but also knowing some aspects that help you have a correct posture, helping to reduce back and neck pain.
There is no such thing as a “perfect” office chair it is recommended that you choose it according to your needs, taking into account the activity performed and the positions required (talking on the phone, typing on the computer), but keep in mind certain important aspects:
- The height of the seat should be adjustable, so you can adopt a comfortable and correct position: feet on the floor, thighs horizontal, knees flexed 90 degrees and parallel to the hips. The seat must provide a comfortable position for the buttocks and thighs, allow the back to sit against the backrest and have a distance of 10 cm between the seat and the popliteal space (the area behind the knee) to avoid local pressure.
- Height and depth adjustable lumbar support is one of the most important aspects of an ergonomic chair especially when you spend 8-10 hours in a sitting position, as it has been shown that sitting in a chair puts 40% more pressure on the lumbar area overtaxing- o and over time the intervertebral discs undergo changes favoring pain in the lumbar area, Over time, neglected this lumbar discopathy turns into lumbo-sciatica crises by irritating the nerve roots, which can negatively influence daily activity.
- The backrest must be wide and high enough to support the back well, from the lumbar region to the cervical region, be adjustable in height and allow swinging from front to back.
- The armrests should be adjustable both in height and on the side, to have relaxed shoulders and elbows in 90 degree flexion, because it is very relaxing to be able to support your forearms while typing on the computer.
- The adjustable headrest is useful for those who talk a lot on the phone or those who spend a lot of time working leaning back, but also for IT-scientists to be able to position their head in a 20-degree flexion. As in the lumbar region, the cervical spine has a physiological lordosis, and in order to avoid pressure on the intervertebral discs, prolonged cervical extension (head lying back) is not recommended.
- Turn the chair easily so you can effortlessly reach any area of the office by moving easily and efficiently.
When you are going to purchase an office chair, it is important to go to showrooms and test it for 10-15 minutes, but also to choose its style, color and upholstery according to your tastes. However, for upholstery, specialists in the field recommend a backrest made made of mesh because it allows good air circulation and prevents the impregnation of perspiration.
An ergonomic office chair will contribute to the health of your back, to reducing stress and increasing concentration, but also to release the tension accumulated in the vertebrae and restore the functional capacity of the joints of the neck, shoulders and hands. regular chair massage at the office is very useful.