The Whats and Hows of an Ergonomic Office Chair: Improve Your Physical and Mental Health at Work

Regardless of your age, if you spend a significant amount of your time at work working on a computer, chances are that you may suffer from physical discomfort and pain. This is because of the unnatural posture that most people adopt when sitting in front of their computers for an extended period of time.

A lot of people will tend to slouch or lean over the keyboard, which can lead to bad posture and tense muscles. Improper sitting also puts pressure on your back and spinal cord which can lead to medical problems in the long term. Research has shown that working in an ergonomically designed office chair will improve your physical health and save you from unnecessary and prolonged discomfort.

Supports Your Back

The modern office chair is not what it used to be. It’s a lot better. While the basic idea of a chair is simply something to sit on, it’s the details that are critical. The lower portion of your back is designed to support the weight of your upper body, but if you lean forward, even slightly, that weight is transferred to your spine, and you get tired very quickly.

The latest mesh ergonomic chair corrects this problem by providing a slight backward tilt that keeps your back supported no matter how far forward you lean. The seat pan of an ergonomic chair is about 17” wide and 19” deep. A good seat pan will have a slight curve along the front edge to allow your thighs to fit snugly without cutting off circulation in your legs.

To provide extra comfort, many chairs now have contoured foam padding made from pieces of foam cut in varying thicknesses and then stitched together and sealed with vinyl fabric. A good chair is also adjustable: You should be able to adjust its height so that your feet rest flat on the floor with your knees bent at a 90-degree angle. This allows you to change the tilt of the seat pan, change the tension of the tilt mechanism, and adjust the lumbar support (the concave section in the middle of the backrest).

Alleviates Back Pain

The human body wasn’t designed to sit at a desk all day. That said, office workers can minimize the effects of sitting on their bodies by using an ergonomic office chair. Somewhat similar to back braces, these chairs are specially designed to encourage proper posture and alleviate stress on the lower back. And since posture and spinal alignment are so important for overall health and wellness, it only makes sense that a mesh ergonomic chair can help improve your mood and productivity.

Helps Relieve Sore Neck Muscles

The longer we sit in one position, the more our muscles begin to stiffen and tighten up. It takes a lot of effort to maintain good posture when sitting in an average office chair, so it is no surprise that most people don’t even think about how they are sitting. The tension that builds up in our muscles over time can lead to soreness, fatigue and pain in the neck, shoulders and back.

People who switch to mesh ergonomic chairs notice a reduction in neck pain and shoulder tension because the chairs support good posture without any effort, and they feel more energized while they work. They also don’t get sleepy at their desks.

Relieves Hip Pressure

Proper ergonomic chairs will allow you to sit at your desk without putting excessive strain on any of your joints. Ergonomic chairs can help you maintain correct posture and reduce hip pressure. Some models work well for people who are particularly tall or short, while others are designed to relieve specific kinds of pain.

Most mesh ergonomic chair designs feature backrests that adjust both vertically and horizontally. They also have adjustable armrests that allow you to maintain a neutral position with your shoulders, wrists, and elbows. Sitting on a properly adjusted ergonomic chair should feel much like sitting on a standard chair, only much more comfortable.

Improves Blood Flow

Properly designed ergonomic chairs should also improve circulation by helping you maintain good posture while seated. This allows the blood flow through your veins to run more smoothly and helps reduce the chances of developing varicose veins in the legs.

Can Increase Your Productivity at Work

Do you know that ergonomic chairs can make a positive difference to your productivity? Scientific research has shown that people who use ergonomic chairs are more productive than those who do not. In fact, there is a six-hour difference between the two groups.

The reason for this is quite simple. When you are comfortable when working, you will have fewer distractions and you will be able to focus on the task at hand more effectively. Also, you will put more effort into your work because of the fact that it will not feel like work.

The sad thing is that most people do not realize this and continue to suffer in their jobs because of it. This does not have to be the case for you though. You can start enjoying your work by getting an ergonomic chair today. This may even help you get a raise or promotion because of your increased productivity!