Working in an office or working from home usually involves spending a great deal of time sitting in an office chair. Sitting for long periods can add extra stress on your spine. To minimize the stress on your back, it’s important to have an office chair that’s ergonomic and that supports your back all day.
Office Chair Checklist:
These are features that a good ergonomic chair should include. A chair does not need all of these features to be a good chair, but the more adjustable the chair is, the more you can adapt the chair to best suit you.
#1. A Five Prong Base
The prongs on an office chair are where the wheels attach and support your weight while you sit. These prongs should be at least as big as the base of the seat.
#2. Adjustable Seat Height
A good chair will have a pneumatic adjustment lever to adjust the height of your seat easily. Standard adjustable heights should range from 42cm to 51cm (1-21 inches) off the floor. You should be able to sit in the chair with your feet flat on the floor, your thighs parallel to the floor, and your arms at desk height.
#3 Seat Width & Depth
The seat should be wide enough to support you comfortably (at least 45cm or 18 inches) and deep enough to support your thighs with 5-10cm (2-4 inches) between the seat and the back of your knees. Look for a chair with a rounded front edge and an adjustable tilt so you can tip the seat forward or backward. Look for padded materials and breathable fabrics.
#4 Lumbar Support
This feature is important for maintaining good lumbar posture. Some chairs have lumbar supports you can move up or down and others have fixed lumbar supports. If you opt for a fixed option, make sure it is 15-25cm (6-10 inches) up the backrest.
#5 Back Rest
The back rest should be as wide, or wider than the widest part of your back. The upper edge should be at least 45-55cm (18-21 inches) from the seat pain and should be adjustable to tilt backward or forward.
#6 Armrests
These should be adjustable and allow you to comfortably rest your elbows with your shoulders relaxed.
Ergonomic Chair Options:
If you’re looking for a new office chair these are our favourites that fit into every budget:
This is a great affordable chair that offers adjustable height, a high back, & removable arms. The lumbar support is fixed but in a great position.
This is the most affordable and adjustable chair on this list, It offers adjustable tilt, lumbar support, arms, and height!
Hon Ergonomic Mesh Task Chair – $859.99
This chair has a ton of adjustable features including adjustable lumbar support.
Herman Miller makes a mean office chair. They have customizable options for every chair and have everything on our checklist. These chairs are designed to move with your body through the day.
Steelcase has become a super popular office chair since the pandemic. It’s incredibly customizable and will keep you comfortable all day.
This is the Cadillac of office chairs that has everything the Cosm has and more. Plus it looks like it belongs in a spaceship.
The most important thing to remember is that you are comfortable in your chair and not feeling sore at the end of the day. For personalized ergonomic advice ask your therapist how you could improve your work setup.