Ergonomic office chairs are designed to keep your body comfortable and safe while you work at your desk, so you can avoid physical discomfort, lower back pain, and other problems that result from sitting in an unergonomic chair.
And while it may seem like a good idea to go cheap with your office furniture purchases and get one of the more inexpensive models without ergonomic features, this is not the way to go. Here are seven reasons why ergonomic chairs are worth it in the long run, even if they’re more expensive up front.
Table of Contents
1) Ergonomic Benefits
Ergonomic office chairs promote better posture and reduce lower back strain, which leads to better productivity, reduced health issues, and increased comfort overall.
For example, research shows that sitting in a chair with good lumbar support is more comfortable than sitting on an unsupportive surface with no back support at all.
Additionally, having proper ergonomics can prevent or reduce bad habits such as slouching and poor posture, which many of us fall into when we don’t have adequate support for our backs. Good ergonomics is also essential for people who spend long hours working behind a desk.
2) Lumbar Support Benefits
Lumbar support is important in ergonomic chairs because it helps maintain a natural S-shaped curve in your lower back, with your head and neck aligned above.
When you have good lumbar support, you’re less likely to slouch, sit at odd angles, or slump forward in your seat. In turn, having better posture helps reduce pressure on muscles and joints.
You should look for seats with adjustable lumbar support or get one with separate cushions that can be adjusted for comfort based on how long you’ll be sitting.
3) Headrest Benefits
An ergonomic chair provides more support for your body. With a headrest, you can reduce neck strain and backaches because your head is properly aligned with your spine.
If you have a bad neck or back, using an ergonomic office chair can greatly reduce pain in these areas.
Many have contoured pillows and lumbar supports to help keep your spine straight; others have adjustable armrests so you don’t rest all of your weight on one side of your body. All of these features add up to a better working environment!
4) Proper Hip and Pelvis Alignment
Proper alignment between your pelvis and hip bones is essential for keeping your spine straight and avoiding pressure on your spinal disks. An ergonomic chair will ensure that you’re sitting up at a 90-degree angle so that there’s no back strain.
Instead of pushing down on your lower back, a good ergonomic chair evenly distributes pressure across most of your body, taking some stress off your lower back.
If you sit in an awkward position or with poor posture, blood flow can be restricted, leading to headaches or even nausea. Sitting properly in an ergonomic chair helps increase blood flow to your brain by aligning your head with your neck and shoulders.
5) Posture is Important
There are plenty of things that can affect our posture. However, there are also many things we can do to improve it. By making small adjustments in how we sit and stand, we can reduce pressure on our back and alleviate neck and shoulder pain.
An ergonomically designed chair with adjustable lumbar support and seat height options is a great place to start, but you can also make other changes around your office space.
Choosing a task chair with armrests that fit well underneath your desk allows you to keep your shoulders back while typing or working on a computer. Repositioning your keyboard tray so it’s even with or slightly higher than your monitor means you’re not hunched over staring at it all day.
6) Improve Your Concentration
A lot of people work in an office environment where they sit at a desk all day. In these cases, it’s especially important that you have a chair that supports your back and helps with your posture.
An ergonomic chair will help to improve your concentration and productivity by providing proper support for your body. Some of these chairs are designed to move in ways that align with how you would normally shift positions when standing.
This means fewer aches and pains caused by sitting awkwardly all day. As an added bonus, some models of ergonomic office chairs feature designs meant to make working while standing more comfortable as well.
7) Warranty & Comfort Features
Look for a warranty and consider what other comfort features—such as headrests, adjustable arms, and lumbar support—the chair has. You might also want to look for special ergonomic features.
Some chairs have special adjustments to keep you from twisting or straining your back, while others are built to relieve pressure on your tailbone, feet, or wrists. Others can tilt you slightly forward so that you can type with better posture or so that your eyes won’t hurt after spending hours working at a computer screen.
Consider how much these kinds of features will improve your comfort and health in everyday use. These days, there are so many types of chairs available that finding one with all of them could be impossible. David Parker, Director of ErgoFurniture, said that 4 out of 5 customers give 5-star ratings to their products after purchasing them.
Conclusion
Finally, these chairs really are worth it. You will feel a difference in your back, shoulders, and posture when you use them properly. More than that, though, ergonomic chairs are much better for your overall health and wellbeing in general, because they do so much more than just help you sit in a better position.
Do yourself a favour and invest in one—you won’t regret it! By following all of these tips, you’ll be on your way to a healthier lifestyle, which is why ergonomic chairs are definitely worth every penny.
