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Sitting is one activity that office workers do more than any other—often for eight or more hours a day! So, chairs are a pretty important part of your office furniture purchase.  Keeping employees comfortable is key too, as an employee distracted by back, shoulder, or wrist pain isn’t going to be at his or her most productive.   Purchasing ergonomic office chairs is a way to ensure that none of your employees are distracted by pain in their backs, arms, wrists, or legs. 

Ergonomic office chairs are designed to provide complete support and comfort to their users, whatever their task is. They usually accomplish this through the incorporation of many adjustable parts into their design—making knowledge of the chair components important.

The following design elements are usually included in ergonomic office chairs:

Back supports. To prevent poor posture, ergonomic office chairs should provide a supportive element for the curvature of the office chair user’s lower back.  While some backrests can be adjusted to provide a custom fit, not all can.  If you have particularly long or short legs, you may wish to check into the ergonomic office chairs that offer adjustable back support.

Seat height.  Ergonomic office chairs should be easily adjustable to prevent back pain and improve posture.  The proper alignment dictates that both feet should be firmly planted on the floor, and that the knees should be at 90° angles, without touching the seat.  You should also be able to type at the keyboard with your arms straight, putting no extra weight on your wrists.  You will often find levers or cylinders attached to the bottom of the seat for adjustment purposes, but each chair is different so make sure you know how to adjust your ergonomic office chair before attempting to use it in the workplace.

Seat.  The seat of an ergonomic office chair should be wide enough to support a variety of users and deep enough to let users lean up against the supportive backrest.  (The chair should be approximately one inch wider than the user’s thighs and hips on each side, for maximum comfort and support.) The seat should also be cushioned so as to distribute weight evenly and contour to the user’s frame. Remember to keep in mind the variety of body types and sizes you have in your office when ordering ergonomic office chairs—you may need to purchase a few different models to accommodate everyone successfully.

Armrests.  They are usually adjustable both vertically and horizontally to provide the most customized support for the wrists, neck, and shoulders—three very stress-prone areas in office employees.  Padded armrests can provide even more support and comfort for certain workers—which may be a plus if your employees frequently type or use the computer. 

Swivel mechanism.  Most ergonomic office chairs swivel to allow users to move easily from side to side, minimizing strain when reaching.  This can be especially beneficial to employees that frequently reach down to filing cabinets, or are twisting to answer phones. 

Wheels.  Many ergonomic office chairs are rolling, to provide easy access to things across the room or at the other side of large desks.  You can often choose from sturdy wheels fit for carpet or textured floors, or rubber-tipped casters made to glide effortlessly over easily damaged surfaces, depending on your office environment. 

Materials.  For proper ergonomics, consider an ergonomic office chair with additional padding.  This padding, in addition to distributing weight, can also disperse some of the user’s body heat, making extended office work much more comfortable. 

Each of these features is usually available on any ergonomic chair—and there are a lot of ergonomic office chairs to choose from.  You can choose the fabric, colors, and overall look of your office chairs, ensuring that your employees will be sitting pretty in more ways than one!  For more in-depth information on purchasing ergonomic office or task chairs, please visit our office chair buyer's guide--it will help you get the best chair for you. 

To get price quotes from multiple ergonomic office chair dealers, let 360OfficeFurniture help.  Our process is easy—you just fill out a simple form detailing your needs—and always 100% free for you.  Click here to get started. 

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