-Back-

Finding The Right Ergonomic Chair

Sitting is a position that adds stress to the structures in the spine. To avoid developing or compounding back problems, it is important to have an ergonomic chair that supports the lower back and evokes good posture.

Today in industrialized countries, many people sit for many hours during the day - also at work operating machines. Although sitting requires less physical effort than standing or walking it puts a lot of stress on the lumbar area. Combines effects of a sedentary lifestyle and a job that requires sitting can lead to many health problems.

The selection of a suitable chair is a critical step in preventing health problems for people working in a sitting position and several basic concepts should be considered:

• The same chair does not fit everyone! The user's body dimensions must
  be used when selecting a chair so that it does not strain one part of the
  body while fitting another.



• As a rule of thumb - the optimal seat height is about one quarter of the
  body height (the torso-to-leg ratio can vary widely)



• One same chair is not suitable for every activity E.g. industrial workers
  require adifferent chair than a dentist.

Features To Look For In An Ergonomic Chair
There are some things that are very important to look for in a good ergonomic chair, regardless of how you intend to use it:

• Seat height - Should be easily adjustable.
• Seat Width and Depth - Should have enough width and depth to support users comfortably.
• Lumbar Support - Lower back support is very important.
• Back Rest - Should be adjustable in both vertical and horizontal directions.
• Arm Rests - Should be adjustable.
• Swivel - Any ergonomic chair should be able to easily rotate around.
• Stability - A five star base is recommended.
• Seat Material - The material on the seat and back should have enough padding to be comfortable to sit on for extented periods of time.