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Ergonomic Chairs and Their Benefits

Updated on December 19, 2011

Benefits of an Ergonomic Chair

Sitting at a computer all day may be taking its toll on your back. Whether you are working in an office or freelancing at home, an ergonomic chair can provide comfort and also prevent future problems. Ergonomic chairs are designed to provide the maximum amount of comfort to the user. Consider a chair that is adjustable.

What is the purpose of an ergonomic chair?

The objective is to fit the workplace to the worker and not the worker to the workplace. This is done by taking into account the physical capabilities of each person.

Note: The word - "ergonomics" comes from two Greek words: "ergos," which means work, and "nomos," which means natural law.

What happens when I sit here working for hours?

Sitting, especially for long periods of time, places a great deal of stress on the body because it transfers the full weight of your upper body down to the buttocks and thighs. Additionally, pressure is also increased on your inter-vertebral discs.

Following are some questions and answers:

1 - How does an ergonomic chair help?

An important and primary benefit is the ability of the chair to improve your sitting posture by providing support to the back and neck - this reduces stress on the spinal cord. The backrest provides lumbar support, which is adjustable on many chairs. A proper lumbar support should be curved small enough to fit in to the small of your back and clear the pelvis and back of your rib cage.

If you have Inadequate lumbar support it will place excess pressure on the spine. The recline adjustment in the chair changes the seat relative to the floor - which will then help transfer some of your upper body weight to the backrest.

2 - Why is computer use a reason for an ergonomic chair?

The use of desktops and notebook computers exerts stress on the wrists and elbow region of the hand and this often results in pain. If the ergonomic chair has adjustable height and width armrests, with at least 2 inches of soft material, it will provide adequate and individual support.

3 - Why do I feel discomfort in my thighs?

It is body weight as mentioned above. To reduce pressure on the thighs an ergonomic chair, with tilt adjustment, will allow you to work in a forward posture. This will help provide a sufficient gap between the back of the knees and the front edge of the chair and, therefore, reduce pressure felt at the back of the thighs.

4 - What other advantages over a traditional chair?

The ergonomic chair allows you to change positions all day. Sitting in a traditional chair creates a static posture - which is the position you are in right now if you do not have an ergonomic chair. This static position creates stress in the back, wrists and elbow regions, as well as in the legs and thighs. Switching to an ergonomic chair will eliminate these problems. It can also reduce fatigue and the risk of injury, increase blood flow and often help increase your productivity.

Meanwhile, if it is time for a coffee or tea break, enjoy the links below about picking tea and coffee:

ergonomic chair
ergonomic chair
working

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