Office Chairs - Tips for Perfect Posture & Enhanced Comfort
If you are sitting in an office chair for extended periods, understanding positive sitting posture can make a huge difference to your comfort and energy levels, your productivity, and your long-term health. An Ergonomic Office Chair is designed for efficiency and comfort in the working environment.
Here is a quick checklist to go through and check your sitting posture
ELBOWS AT YOUR SIDE AND LEVEL WITH KEYBOARD
To be able to use the computer comfortably for extended periods of time, you need to be able to use your keyboard and mouse without stretching. Stretching or over-reaching while using the computer can cause forearm and shoulder tension and pain. Your shoulders should be relaxed, and your elbows close by your side and approximately level with your keyboard. If you’re reaching up, or your wrists are rolled back, you’ll quickly experience wrist strain, pain, and fatigue.
EYES LEVEL TO THE TOP OF YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN
To protect your neck and shoulder muscles from strain and pain your eyes should be approximately level with the top of your screen.
BACK AND LUMBAR PROPERLY SUPPORTED
If you’re sitting for some hours at a time our recommendation is that as a minimum your chair should have gas-lift seat height adjustment, and backrest angle and height adjustment. Always sit near the back of your seat. Make sure the chair backrest is adequately supporting your back and allowing you to sit with your back straight. The backrest lumbar support should be positioned to support your lower back. We recommend sitting with your torso and thighs at an angle a little more open than 90 degrees, with your knees slightly lower than your hips.This open-angle sitting position allows for good circulation and lung function.
FEET FLAT ON THE FLOOR
Place your feet flat on the floor or try a footrest, this can make a considerable difference to your comfort. If your feet aren’t reaching the floor or somehow supported, this will mean adding pressure under your thighs which can inhibit circulation and cause discomfort.
REMEMBER TO MOVE!
Any prolonged sitting position, even a good one, can be tiring. As you’re working you can change your chair backrest angle or seat angle from time to time to allow your spine and muscles a variation in position. We recommend standing or move away from your office chair and regular intervals. If you have a standing desk you can alternate sitting and standing throughout the day. Take stretch breaks during the day.
OTHER HELPFUL HINTS
MINDFULNESS AND BREATHING
Having a stressful day? Try mindfulness techniques and deep breathing exercises to reduce stress. Simply take a few moments and focus on deep breathing to a regular count.
STAY HYDRATED
Keep a water bottle at your desk or use a walk to the office water cooler as an opportunity to stretch and move.
ERGONOMIC ACCESSORIES
Are you using the correct Ergonomic accessories? Consider a wrist-rest mouse pad, keyboard wrist-rest and adjustable monitor stand.
ABOUT OFFICE CHAIR MECHANISMS
- Gaslift height adjustment
- Backrest angle adjustment
- Seat angle adjustment
- Backrest height adjustment
With a 3-lever mechanism the seat and backrest angles are adjusted separately and can be moved to a position that suits you and then locked in place. The seat angle adjustment allows a forward tilt seat angle promoting an open body posture and positive circulation, and allowing the user to sit within easy reach of their work. A 3-lever mechanism allows enough adjustability to suit users working 8+ hours a day. Some chairs with 3-lever mechanisms also feature a Seat Slide function. This allows the seat depth to be adjusted to suit the user. Most New Zealanders like 3-lever mechanisms as they allow the most control over how you choose to sit.
2 LEVER OFFICE CHAIRS
- Gaslift height adjustment
- Backrest angle adjustment
- Backrest height adjustment
The 2-lever mechanism backrest angle adjustment allows you to choose your backrest position and then lock it in place to suit. We recommend 2-lever mechanisms for users sitting for short periods up to 6 hours a day. Chairs with 2-lever mechanisms can also be fitted with a Seat Slide function. This allows the seat depth to be adjusted to suit the user. We also recommend 2-lever mechanisms for HighLift chairs, as we feel that maximum stability is achieved with a fixed seat angle.
SYNCHRO OFFICE CHAIRS
- Dynamic back and seat tilt movement
- Gas Lift height adjustment
- And sometimes lumbar height adjust
With a synchro mechanism the backrest and seat tilt movement is synchronised so they move together when adjusted. It is designed to be used in floating tilt mode so the backrest and seat move with you, following your movement to support you as you work. The tilt function can also be locked so the seat and back angle is fixed. On most chairs with synchro mechanisms the user needs to adjust the tilt tension to suit their body weight, so that the seat and back are providing you with appropriate support and you can move and tilt the chair comfortably. With backrest height or lumbar adjustment, a chair with a synchro mechanism offers enough adjustability to suit users working 8+ hours a day.
Be sure to check out our Best Selling Office Chairs at Workspace Direct
1. Buro Roma 3 Lever Office Chair
2. Chorus 3.5 3 Lever Office Chair
3. Spectrum 3 Lever Office Chair
- Tanya Hanrahan
