Welcome to this comprehensive guide on the benefits of an ergonomic chair. Walk away today learning why an ergonomic chair is not so much a luxury, as it is a necessity. Perhaps you experience discomfort or pain from sitting in your chair; or you are being proactive and looking for ways to prevent a lifelong debilitating injury. Fortunately, there is a quick and simple answer to your issues or concerns. Read on to discover how an ergonomic chair can be an invaluable asset to you. As a bonus, I’ve scattered some startling facts throughout the article which may make you think twice about slouching!
What is the meaning of ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the process of designing or organizing a work area, product or system to fit the person that uses it. Or in simpler terms, fitting the task to the person.
Many people probably think that an ergonomic chair is something that only people experiencing pain or discomfort need. Well prepare to be educated as believe it or not, you could be at risk of developing an injury as a result of not sitting correctly, something which could be prevented with an ergonomic chair. An ergonomic chair is not only something that can help those suffering with back issues. It’s not a work at home accessory that you can really choose to have, it is practically an office essential for anyone who is in a seated position.
The benefits of sitting in an ergonomic chair are invaluable, especially for those who study or work in jobs which involve periods of sitting. You are probably already aware that sitting for long periods of time is uncomfortable and that sitting for long periods of time can cause adverse health effects in the long run. Additionally, there are some jobs where people are required to sit for hours on end.
Not only can this get unpleasant, but it can also make completing the job more difficult if the person feels the need to regularly get out of their uncomfortable, stiff chair.
What you can experience as a result of a poor chair or poor posture?
Imagine what it must be like for people suffering from musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle sprain and strains. Many of you wake up and experience little to no pain on a daily basis. Now think back to a time when you experienced back pain or couldn’t engage in your hobbies or day to day activities as a result of an injury.
Remember how frustrating it was to have to give up your hobbies to let your body recover? Remember how useless you felt having to rely on others to lift items for you due to a muscle sprain or a bad back? I personally recall the fear of wondering if the low back pain would ever go away. Would I have to pop medication to tackle the pain or accept suffering for the rest of my life? It certainly makes you appreciate the days when you are pain-free.
Could an ergonomic chair help me?
Gone are the days when you had to adapt your body to fit the equipment, e.g. sitting on a chair which caused your feet to dangle because the chair was too high from the floor. Or perhaps the low chair caused your knees to bang off the furniture because you were too tall to fit it. This was something which was at the expense of injuring your own posture.
With advances in ergonomics, an ergonomic chair is within the realm of literally anybody, even you, yes you reading this! Whether you’re a person working from home, in a seated job or if you spend long hours sitting, it still applies. You owe it to yourself to treat your body right because your health is your wealth. You also owe it to your future self to adopt a lifestyle which eliminates a poor posture and the likely onset of injury and pain in years to come.
This is particularly important nowadays when more people than ever are working from home. No doubt, the majority of these people are either working or studying from their kitchen chair, couch, bed or even from their floor. While you might get away with this for a short period of time, it only leads to detrimental, cumulative wear and tear on the body’s muscles and joints as the body becomes positioned in a poor posture.
Did you know: approximately 74% of workers experience back pain at least a few times a week as a result of sitting at their desk. Does this sound familiar?
Don’t let this be you. Don’t become one of the 60 to 70% of the population who experience back pain as a result of a poorly setup workstation. Here, you will uncover a range of benefits associated with ergonomic chairs, some of these are even indirectly related to sitting in an ergonomic chair which you might not have even thought of. Additionally, If you are looking for some home office design ideas, it will add a touch of glamour and style to your office or home, and who doesn’t like that idea?
So, what are the benefits of an ergonomic chair?
| Benefits of an ergonomic chair | |
| Increases comfort | ✓ |
|
Reduces back pain | ✓ |
|
Reduces neck pain | ✓ |
|
Reduces pressure in your hips | ✓ |
|
Enhances mood | ✓ |
|
Increases productivity | ✓ |
| Reduced absenteeism | ✓ |
Increases comfort
With an ergonomic chair, the degree to which you can adjust this seems almost endless. Whether it’s the chair height, the tilt of the backrest, the headrest, armrests and even the angle of the seat base itself, you choose the configuration to suit you. Therefore, you can alter your chair to meet your comfort and needs. This will ensure that you have optimum pleasure and comfort when sitting in the chair. You may even be so comfortable that you don’t want to get out of it, or you might even look forward to working there simply for the seated experience; how dreamy does that sound!
Reduces back pain
Unlike standard office chairs or even your chairs at home, ergonomic chairs are designed with a backrest that helps to support your spine and keep it in a natural position. The majority of chairs do not have a curved back, nor do they have a backrest that is high enough to support your back. As a result, this can lead to slouching which can put as much as up to 200% more pressure on your back particularly your lower back. If that fact alone doesn’t spur you into a better posture, then you probably don’t realize how negative the effects of poor posture and slouching can be on your back.
Reduces neck pain
Traditional chairs typically don’t come with a headrest. The lack of appropriate neck support can cause you to develop stiffness in the upper body region, particularly around the neck and shoulders. A neck rest is particularly valuable for people who sit at a desk for long periods of time, work on call desks or frequently spend hours on phone calls or video conferences.
Reduces pressure in your hips
If you’re reading this from your uncomfortable kitchen chair, it’s likely that extra force is being applied to your hips as a result. Additionally, the chair may not have appropriate depth to support 3/4 of your thighs, hips and buttocks. An adjustable and appropriately sized seat ensures that your body is angled in a way that minimises pressure on your pelvic region. Not only that, it also helps keep your joints and tissues in as neutral a posture as possible. This alone can help to reduce the risk of increasing pain, pressure and stiffness associated with sitting down. Remember that the key is to keep the body in as neutral a posture as possible.
Enhances mood
If you’re going to be sitting in an uncomfortable position for long periods of time or you are going to be suffering from pain as a result of your work station setup, it’s bound to take a toll on your mental health. We’ve all experienced days when we have been in agony and discomfort and suffered from a bad mood as a result. Using a chair which reduces pain and discomfort can prevent this from occurring and keep you in a more positive mood.
Increases productivity
When considering the advantages of an ergonomic chair, it’s unlikely that you would think of increased productivity as one of the benefits. Think about it this way, if you feel more comfortable and you are not suffering from pain or discomfort as a result of the chair that you are sitting in, you’re probably more likely to be focused on the task at hand and less consumed with the niggling pain in your back, neck, shoulders or wrists. Additionally, if you don’t feel the urge to get out of your chair due to discomfort, you can spend more time working at your desk and being more efficient.
Reduced absenteeism
In the US, musculoskeletal disorders are the most common type of workplace injury. Often when you have a niggling pain somewhere, such as in your back, neck, and shoulders, this often leads to medical appointments, regular check-ups, physiotherapy and in some cases, it can also lead to absenteeism. Regardless of whether this is short term (less than 6 weeks) or long-term absence (greater than 6 weeks), it not only impacts on your health and well being, it also poses a cost for you personally.
Whether it’s the cost of taking a few hours off work to attend appointments, paying for the medical appointments, or the medication that is associated with alleviating the pain, or in worst case scenarios, the cost of being out of work, these are all avoidable costs that nobody wants to bear. An ergonomic chair can provide invaluable assistance with preventing the onset of injuries before they put you in discomfort and lead to the undesirable and avoidable torture that is musculoskeletal disorders.
Will using an ergonomic chair excuse me from taking breaks from sitting?
No is the short answer. Regardless of your position and regardless of what you are sitting on or in, movement is always a key priority for the body to help improve blood circulation and prevent the increasing risk of developing diseases and injuries. However, an ergonomic chair has much more adjustable features which can adapt to your changing positions compared to a standard office chair or even your kitchen chair at home. For example, you can adjust the backrest forward and back so that you can change your position if you get tired of sitting at the same upright angle.
I find this personally very useful when I am on the phone or when I am on a conference call as I can stretch back in my chair for a few minutes. This not only allows me to change my posture, but it also lets me get some stretching exercises in and gives my body a break from sitting in that one static position. I’m sure you’ll agree that there’s nothing quite like being able to have a stretch after spending a while hunched over a screen or a book in the one position.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, a complete guide to the advantages of owning your own ergonomic chair. It almost seems too good to be true that such a simple investment could offer so many invaluable benefits. I for one didn’t consider the fact that a comfortable chair could be the difference between a long tedious day at work being seated in an unpleasant chair and a productive day of being supported by a chair that I can adjust based on how I feel like sitting.
Now that you know what the benefits of an ergonomic chair are, check out this article which teaches you the essential information and tips that you need to know to buy your very own ergonomic chair. Did you know that not all chairs labelled as ergonomic are genuinely ergonomic? Want to know how to spot a real ergonomic chair? Check out this article:
What to look for in an ergonomic office chair
Because after all, if you’re going to invest, you might as well pick one that meets your needs and offers the most support for your body.
Do you own an ergonomic chair or do you use a standard office chair or kitchen table chair? What benefit would you like to experience most from your chair? Is it the ability to adjust it to your own desires or is it having something comfortable to sit in? Perhaps the peace of mind knowing that the chair you are sitting in is helping you to achieve the best posture possible, and could ultimately be a deciding factor in preventing you from developing back injuries, pain and suffering. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, so please share them in the comments box.
