As prolonged sitting periods have become an inseparable part of our modern work life, an ergonomic chair is not just a luxury anymore, it has become a necessity. If you search for office chairs, you’ll be blasted with the results of various different kinds of chairs.
That begs the question, are ergonomics really worth it? Do ergonomic chairs really work? Ergonomic chairs do indeed work as they are designed to offer superior comfort, enhanced adjustability, and a better sitting experience by maintaining a healthy sitting posture. By using the enhanced adjustability on an ergonomic chair a user can customize his/her sitting experience.
There is a myriad of reasons why ergonomic chairs are superior to standard office chairs. In this article, we’ll be going through the top 9 reasons why an ergonomic chair is the best possible choice for an office worker.
So, without any further delay, let’s begin!
Ergonomic Chairs Really Work For The Following 9 Reasons:
Let’s get down to business and discuss what all the fuss is about when it comes to ergonomic office chairs and why they work. Let’s dive right in:
1. It Corrects Your Posture
Ergonomic chairs are designed in such a way that they are perfectly suited to support your natural posture while sitting. Sitting down in one place for several hours is unnatural for humans in and of itself.
But, an ergonomic chair can reduce the stress and pressure that gets exerted on your body while being seated.
One of the most common ergonomic features of an ergonomic chair is a large, full-length backrest that extends from the seat to your shoulders.
Ergonomic chairs come with adjustable lumbar supports that help in fixing your posture.
One of the biggest reasons for health issues related to sedentary behavior such as back pain is caused by bad posture and a limitation of movement. These chairs help remedy that by promoting a good sitting posture that properly aligns your shoulders, spine, lower backs, and hips.
Ergonomic chairs are designed to reduce abnormal strains on your body by preventing harmful sitting positions like leaning forward or slouching.
2. Provides Proper Support for Your Back, Neck, and Arms
Sitting on an ergonomic chair is an excellent way to get the necessary back support that encourages your body to be seated in a more upright position. This will allow you to reach everything placed on your workstation without having to lean forward and putting additional strain on your poor lower back in the process.
It’s the type of tool that when used properly, can assist in maximizing back support while sitting and maintaining a good posture.
These chairs also feature highly adjustable armrests. These armrests are super comfortable and they support your forearms and elbows. They allow you to keep your arm placed in the natural position right by your side.
3. Reduces Back Pain
One of the most common complaints that office workers make is that they are suffering from lower back pain (sometimes in combination with neck pain). And the primary reason for that is the entry-level and low-budget office chairs used in most offices don’t provide the necessary back support.
And that lack of proper support builds up an unnatural amount of stress on the user’s lower back over long periods. This is where ergonomic chairs come in.
If you use an ergonomic chair that features both lumbar support and a headrest, it’ll not only support your lower back but also your head and neck. Ergonomic chairs reduce back pain by providing support to those important pressure points.
Recommended Article: Are Ergonomic Chairs Good for Your Back?
4. Reduces Stress While Working: (Reclining and Rocking Feature)
This is literally the biggest selling point of ergonomic chairs. These chairs support the natural “S” shape of the human spine. A regular, non-ergonomic chair on the other hand will try to disrupt that shape and cause stress to your spine.
Ergonomic chairs prevent you from slumping and in turn decrease stress on your spine and pelvis. These chairs have adjustable backrests that let the users align the chair’s curve with the curve of your spine.
An ergonomic chair is designed to fit the individual worker in order to reduce physical stress exerted on the worker’s body. This not only makes the user more comfortable while sitting but also eliminates the potentially serious and disabling work-related health hazards like musculoskeletal disorders.
Two of the most important and stress-relieving features of ergonomic chairs are the reclining and rocking features. The reclining feature comes with a multiple tilt lock mechanism.
And the rocking feature protects you from the discomfort of having restricted movement while sitting.
5. Ensures Comfort for Prolonged Sitting
The traditional chairs are notorious for not being ideal for long hours. They don’t support the user’s body and they don’t make them feel comfortable. An ergonomic chair can alleviate that issue by providing better relaxation and by reducing pain.
Firstly, ergonomic chairs come with a ton of adjustable features that let you customize the chair to your liking. That way you can do some experiments to figure out which configuration makes you most comfortable.
You can also recline your ergonomic chair in order to comfort your back and get lost in deep thought. You’ll most likely have the option to lock the recline into a dozen different positions.
The armrests, seat tilt, and seat height of these chairs are also adjustable. You won’t feel stressed or fatigued even after prolonged work hours. And the best part is that you can lean back and relax on the chair after you’re done.
Recommended Article: Are Ergonomic Chairs Comfortable?
6. Improves Circulation
You might not have considered this, but a good ergonomic chair can actually increase the blood circulation throughout your body and protect you from adverse health issues related to sitting for long hours.
In a 2010 study on the effects of sitting down and watching Television for extended periods on Diabetes and obesity, the researchers found that sitting for more than one hour straight can increase the risk of back pain and depression.
This study also found that prolonged sedentary behavior can cause heart disease and poor blood circulation. It’s no wonder why you hear office workers often complain about health issues while sitting for long hours.
According to The American Heart Association, any form of movement that raises the person’s metabolic rate above the stationary condition will have long-term health benefits.
That’s why using an ergonomic chair while you work is of the utmost importance.
7. Improves Productivity
Ergonomic chairs are quite comfortable and their adjustable features make them all the more appealing. These chairs allow the office workers to maintain the proper posture while working and that in turn makes them more productive on their jobs.
Various scientific studies have proven that the right choice of chairs can have a major impact on the employee’s overall health, motivation, and of course productivity.
The success of any business depends on the productivity of the employees. And you wouldn’t make your employees too tired and unmotivated, would you?
8. Ensures Health and Safety
Ergonomic chairs can have profound health effects. They can help you feel better and more energetic despite having to sit down for an extended period. An ergonomic chair can reduce the blood sugar level in the user’s body.
The most harmful effect of prolonged sitting is that it causes damage to the heart. And as we’ve already discussed, ergonomic chairs improve blood flow.
9. Promotes Active Sitting
Studies have found that just doing exercise has little effect on the toll it takes on your body as you work for eight hours a day while sitting. The only way to combat this issue is by being active and having a free range of movement while you sit.
Ergonomic chairs promote active sitting and their added features go a long way in helping you regain control of your muscles instead of going numb.
Related Questions
How Do Ergonomic Chairs Work?
Ergonomic chairs are primarily designed to make the users comfortable while sitting for long periods of time. Ergonomic chairs mainly work by maintaining a healthy sitting posture and supporting the natural “S” shape of your spine.
They also feature adjustable seat height & depth, backrests, lumbar support, headrest, and armrests. This adjustability will enable you to customize the chair according to your specific needs.
Do I need an Ergonomic Chair?
Yes, you do need an ergonomic chair if you have a sitting desk job at the office or at home. And one of the biggest reasons why you should get an ergonomic chair is all the health benefits that’s associated with ergonomic chairs.
They can help alleviate back pain as they provide sufficient support to the user’s back. And that’s not all they are also remarkably comfortable.
Final Thoughts
Indeed, your comfort and job satisfaction can be greatly increased if you opt to use an ergonomic chair in your workspace. That’s the reason why so many office workers prefer ergonomic chairs.
In this article, we’ve tried to show you the top 9 reasons why ergonomic chairs really work. Hopefully, we’ve succeeded in making you understand all the reasons why you should invest in an ergonomic office chair immediately.
You’ll be doing yourself a favor. That’s all for now. Till next time!
