An office chair primer
These articles sponsored by True. At True,
we are an organization that prides itself on
high-quality, affordable, innovative office
solutions for the everyday consumer. Our
focus on the synergy between innovative
design and ergonomic comfort gives us
an edge over our competition. We support
this with world-class customer service to
ensure consumer satisfaction.
IF YOU SPEND MOST of your workweek at a desk, a comfortable chair—
one that provides sustained orthopedic well-being—is an essential piece of
equipment. An ill-fitting chair will cause lower back pain and dramatically
increase existing back or neck problems. This is because, even though sitting
is a static activity, it’s physically stressful on your back, neck, shoulders, arms
and legs.
Sitting for prolonged periods places undue pressure on back muscles
and spinal discs because the muscles you use for good posture tire over
time. Slouching is a natural response, but this posture tends to stretch spinal
ligaments and strain the discs and surrounding structures of the spine. This
scenario eventually leads to back problems and pain.
A comfortable chair that works well ergonomically will maximize back
support and help you maintain good posture while sitting. The upshot is that
you won’t be plagued by back pain and fatigue, leaving you physically unencumbered where work is concerned.
It’s a good idea to “test-drive” different office chairs to see which feels
best. Simply buying an “ergonomic” chair will seldom provide a good long-term fit. A good chair will fit your individual body type as well as dovetail with
TIPS&TRICKS
FINDING A SEAT THAT FITS
If it’s true, as the adage says, that “people
come in all shapes and sizes,” how do you
find an office chair that fits? Here’s an office
chair overview that groups chairs into three
general types.
HEAVY-USE CHAIR
This type is for people who are glued to
their chairs for long hours each day—e.g.,
computer programmers, receptionists and so
on. If you’re in this group, look for a chair with
a synchro-tilt mechanism, a fatigue-reducing
device on the underside of the chair’s seat.
Thanks to this device, whether you lean
forward or back, the chair back moves with
you to provide continuous support.
ing at your computer and spending time in
meetings—a chair with a knee-tilt mechanism
is worth considering. This mechanism allows
you to lean back in the chair while keeping your
feet on the ground. In chairs without this device,
your feet typically are lifted when you lean back,
leading to discomfort over time. One additional
note: This type of chair typically has more style
to convey management status.
MODERATE-USE CHAIR
If you’re a typical middle manager—up and
down a lot, alternating between work-
EXECUTIVE CHAIR
This model has the same mechanical features
as the moderate-use chair, but is typically larger,
more comfortable and more elegant for the executive. It’s designed for the person who spends
time going from conference room to conference
room, and spends more time on the phone than
on the computer while at his or her desk. Think
comfort, style and status (and a higher price tag).
