Office chairs - how to find the right office chair for your home
1. Ergonomic sitting
An upright sitting position while working not only prevents back pain, but also promotes concentration, increases productivity and alleviates muscular discomfort in every part of the body. For the correct sitting position, the pelvis can tilt forward slightly, making it easier to maintain an upright posture. A 90° angle in the knee, hip and elbow prevents pain. Place your feet firmly on the floor. To prevent the wrists from buckling, your hands should lie as flat as possible on the mouse or keyboard in line with your forearms.
In order to promote the correct sitting position, high-quality office chairs that can be optimally adapted to the body through adjustments and functions help.
Office chairs and their ergonomic functions
"The more hours you spend in your office chair during the day, the more it is recommended that you pay attention to individual adjustment options and additional functions, such as a headrest and a tilting backrest for dynamic sitting." - Viktoria, furnishing expert
Ergonomically shaped backrest
If you spend a lot of time in an office chair, you should pay attention to an ergonomically shaped backrest. The width of the backrest should be at least equal to the width of the backrest to allow you to lean back comfortably. High-quality office chairs also have a curvature (lumbar support), which serves as support for the lumbar region. The curvature should be at the level of the belt line.
Tilting backrest for dynamic sitting
Many office chairs have a tiltable backrest that adapts perfectly to the movement of the body. A distinction is made between a simple rocking mechanism, in which the backrest and seat move backwards at the same time, a permanent contact mechanism, in which the seat does not change its position but only tilts the backrest, and a synchronous mechanism, in which the seat tilts in a ratio of 1:3 to the backrest. In this way, the back is optimally supported during movement.
Adjustable armrests
Desk chairs are available with or without armrests. In the best case, the armrests can be adjusted in height to fit the body at the perfect angle. In this way, the forearms can be rested briefly during work to prevent strain.
Headrest
To relieve the neck muscles, choose an office chair with headrest. If the support is height-adjustable, the head and neck can be perfectly adapted.
Adjustable seat height and seat depth
In some office chairs, the seat height and the seat depth can be adjusted. This is particularly practical to enable users of any height to achieve the perfect sitting position.
Stands and castors for hard and soft floors
Desk chairs are usually equipped with a four-star or five-star base, which is particularly stable and prevents tipping. Underframes with castors make the chair mobile so that you can quickly reach the other end of the desk or "drive" to the filing cabinet.
When choosing the castors you should consider your own floor covering. In principle, the harder the floor covering, the softer and more rubberised the castors are, in order not to damage the floor, to avoid rolling noises and to make mobility as comfortable as possible.
For carpet, PVC and felt flooring, soft floor rolls with a harder coating are suitable, while hard floor rolls with a soft coating are used on laminate, tiles, parquet and floorboards.
1. Hay - About A Chair AAC 52 | 2. Fritz Hansen - Oxford Chair | 3. Vitra - Aluminium Group EA 104 Swivel Chair | 4. Hay - About A Chair AAC 14
3. Cushions and material
When choosing material and upholstery, the duration of daily sitting is relevant. Plastic shells without upholstery (1) and those with simple seat upholstery (2) are suitable for entertaining work at the desk. Seats with back and seat upholstery (3) increase comfort. In Fully upholstered shells with armrests (4) can be used comfortably for longer periods of work. The more upholstered the chair is, the more pleasant it is to work and sit for long periods. Office chairs with mesh upholstery (5) adapt optimally to the shape of the back and yield slightly. Breathable materials also prevent unpleasant sweating during long periods of sitting. Seats with mesh (6) also offer good ventilation, but are not generously upholstered and ergonomically shaped.
1. Normann Copenhagen - Form swivel chair with castors | 2. Flötotto - Pro 6 swivel chair | 3. Vitra - Rookie office chair | 4. Muuto - Fiber office armchair Swivel Base | 5. Vitra - AM Chair | 6. Thonet - S64 VDR swivel chair
4. Conclusion
- The more hours you spend in your office chair during the day, the more it is recommended that you pay attention to individual adjustment options and additional functions when choosing an office chair.
- Ergonomically shaped backrests with lumbar support prevent pain and support a correct, upright posture when sitting.
- Tiltable backrests, depth-adjustable seat surfaces as well as height-adjustable armrests and headrests allow the office chair to adapt perfectly to the body.
- The right castors for every floor covering: soft floor castors with a harder coating are suitable for carpet, PVC and felt flooring, while hard floor castors with a soft coating are used on laminate, tiles, parquet and floorboards.
- The more time spent daily on the office chair, the more important the upholstery and the material of the seat shell. From simple seat upholstery to comfortable full upholstery and breathable mesh coverings, there is a wide choice.
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