Office Chairs and Ergonomics

Anyone who has searched for office furniture at some point would have seen how the word “ergonomics” gets bandied around. You may want to think a piece of furniture labeled as an “ergonomic chair” is another gimmick, but it’s not. Your office chair and other design decisions should properly factor in ergonomics. In this post, we discuss the basic things you should know.

A Brief Overview of Ergonomics

Put simply, ergonomics is the study of people’s efficiency in their working environment. This spans a lot of areas from the type of lighting within the workplace to the type of chair you sit in, the ambient noise around, and many other important details. As little as each of these may seem to be, these factors will all add up to influence the efficiency and productivity of workers in the workplace.

It’s not uncommon to see many companies performing an ergonomic assessment of their offices to ensure the workplace is designed in a way that promotes top-level efficiency. Whether you’re just changing an old office chair to a new one, or at the point of choosing office chairs for the entire office, it’s very important to incorporate ergonomics into your decision.

Why Ergonomic Chairs?

It’s not hard to see the value of ergonomics in the workplace especially in seating. The most obvious benefits are shown in the areas of productivity and improved comfort. This type of chairs significantly reduces stress and strain on the body.

In the absence of significant physical stress, there are fewer tensions and distractions to deal with. This, in turn, helps employees to stay more focused and engaged with work, ultimately improving their efficiency and productivity.

However, the value of ergonomics is not limited to just productivity and comfort. Both the employer and employee will benefit from reduced medical costs in the long run. This is because an ergonomic workplace reduces the chances of workers developing posture issues such as back strains and the like.

For the employee, this means improved physical health and medical costs. The employer, as well, will also benefit from fewer health costs and fewer days off due to sick leaves. Along with the improved productivity, there is also a monetary benefit to this, in the long run.

Understand the Difference

Most non-ergonomic chairs offer little to no back support. This can, however, be problematic in a variety of ways. Employees will find it practically impossible to maintain good posture for long. Slouching, or slumping then becomes the order of the day as the day goes by.

But things are different with an ergonomic chair. These chairs have adjustable body parts, along with adequate back support to not just support an individual’s posture but to also make them customizable for individual preferences. Ergonomic chairs can have features that include back tilt adjustments, seat and height adjustments, arm pivot, and lumbar support, among others. They are ideal for most office settings since workers of all types regardless of their shape and size differences can customize their chairs to suit their individual needs.

Who Needs an Ergonomic Chair?

It doesn’t really matter if you’re not experiencing any posture-related strain at the moment. So long as you’re working at a desk frequently for hours, there’s a lot in this for you. These chairs are body-friendly and will definitely improve your work results through improved productivity.

More so, people who are not currently experiencing tensions or pains of any kind stand to gain the most benefits. An ergonomic chair will ensure you get to maintain your physical health while working. The daily stress and strain you’re subjected to will greatly reduce and you’ll feel both physically and emotionally better.