Ergonomic chairs: Why use them?

08 Mar 2016

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. In today’s society, many will be sitting all day long either in office environments or operating machines.

Although sitting requires less physical effort than standing or walking, it still puts a lot of stress on the lumbar area. Combined 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.

A well-designed chair allows the user to sit in a balanced position. Buying an ergonomic chair is a good beginning but it must be combined with a proper posture to maximize the benefits!

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).