Choosing an office chair can be daunting for the employer and for the home office customer. For the employer of many staff it’s important to choose a chair that can be dynamic and adaptable to all shapes and sizes. For the home office user — it all about finding the balance between comfort, size and design. Chairs are individual. What you think is comfortable does not necessarily mean comfortable for your colleague sitting opposite you. The trick is to be able to adjust the chair to fit you. it’s crucial to have an office chair that supports the lower back and promotes good posture.
Seat height
Office chair seat height should be easily adjustable. A pneumatic adjustment lever is the easiest way to do this. A seat height that ranges from about 16 to 21 inches off the floor should work for most people. This allows the user to have his or her feet flat on the floor, with thighs horizontal and arms even with the height of the desk.
Seat width and depth
The seat should have enough width and depth to support any user comfortably. Usually 17–20 inches wide is the standard. The depth (from front to back of the seat) needs to be enough so that the user can sit with his or her back against the backrest of the ergonomic office chair while leaving approximately 2 to 4 inches between the back of the knees and the seat of the chair. The forward or backward tilt of the seat should be adjustable.
Lumbar support
Lower back support in an ergonomic chair is very important. The lumbar spine has an inward curve, and sitting for long periods without support for this curve.
Backrest
The backrest of an ergonomic office chair should be 12 to 19 inches wide. If the backrest is separate from the seat, it should be adjustable in height and angle. It should be able to support the natural curve of the spine, again with special attention paid to proper support of the lumbar region. If the office chair has the seat and backrest together as one piece, the backrest should be adjustable in forward and back angles, with a locking mechanism to secure it from going too far backward once the user has determined the appropriate angle.
Seat material
The material on the office chair seat and back should have enough padding to be comfortable to sit on for extended periods of time. Having a mesh fabric that breathes is preferable to a harder surface.
Armrests
Office chair armrests should be adjustable. They should allow the user’s arms to rest comfortably and shoulders to be relaxed. The elbows and lower arms should rest lightly, and the forearm should not be on the armrest while typing.
Swivel
Any conventional style or ergonomic chair should easily rotate so the user can reach different areas of his or her desk without straining.
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