For the majority of you who work in office and at desk jobs, you spend a great deal of time sitting down. While sitting for most of the day seems pretty low risk compared to other occupational hazards, sitting in the same position all the time can stress the structures of the spine, and may result in injuries to the back, neck and even the wrist. It is important to find an office chair that is ergonomically designed to support the lower back and promote good posture. An ergonomic chair cannot only prevent injury and pain in the back, but it also maximizes your function at work.

When looking for the right ergonomic chair for you, it is important to find one suited to your needs. With so many ergonomic office chairs on the market, it’s important to research them, since there is no single chair that could be labeled the “best.” There are specific features that should be considered when looking for a desk chair, such as adjustable seat height. Your feet should be flat on the floor with your thighs at a horizontal position, and your arms should be even with the height of the desk. Having an adjustable armrest is also beneficial, since you can rest your arms and relax your shoulders, which can eliminate significant tension while working. You should also look for a chair with a seat that has sufficient width and depth to support you. While working, you should be able to sit with your back resting against the back of the chair. In addition, the back should also be adjustable in its tilt forward and backwards. The best chairs are highly adjustable so they can be set to fit you, rather than you fitting to it.

One big issue about working at a desk all day is that many chairs are not designed to support the lower back. Support for our lumbar spine, or our lower back, is very important. Our spinal curvature has an inward curve in the lumber spine, and sitting for too long without supporting it will lead to slouching and straining the structures of the lower spine. An ergonomic chair must offer lumber support and adjustment, so you can fit the chair to the inward curve of the lower back. When this is not possible, I suggest a separate lumbar support cushion like the ones I have available in the office. I often find the "cheap" ones sold at the discount stores do not use dense enough foam and are too squishy offering little to no support. Before you buy I recommend doing the squeeze test and even trying them out before you purchase.

Additional things to also consider are the seat material: is it comfy? An ergonomic chair with a swivel on the chair can help you reach different areas of your desk without strain.

After researching the properties of the ergonomic chairs on the market, you need to consider your specific job and what functions you need to perform. Consider your priorities and properties you need for your ergonomic chair. Once you’ve decided on the chair for you, explore stores to try the chairs out. See if they’re comfortable and meet your needs. Shop around, both online and off to make sure you get the best price and quality out there. You might also want to consider alternative ergonomic chairs, such as kneeling or saddle chairs and even the exercise ball chair.

If you had to pin me down to name my favorite chair I would recommend the Aeron chair by Herman Miller. Here is a link to my favorite office chair website and the Aeron chair:

http://www.sit4less.com/landing-pages/aeron-chairs/126?gclid=CN28xbf0rK4CFY2b7QodikQrTg

If you ever want to try mine out, be my guest.

References Used:

[1] http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/ergonomics/office-chair-ergonomic-chair-alternatives-traditional-office-chairs Accessed October 2011

[2] http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-an-Ergonomic-Office-Chair Accessed October 2011

[3] http://www.officechairadvice.com/ Accessed October 2011