subject: Top reasons to buy ergonomic chairs [print this page] Why are ergonomic chairs so important for your health? Read on.
If you're like most people, you single longest activity of the day is sitting in an office chair at your desk. Again, if you're like most people, you slouch or slump in your chair, quite unaware of the damage your posture is wrecking on your body.
Bad posture affects every part of your body, including your neck, chest, shoulders, back and legs. When you sit in the wrong posture, all your muscles are working against you and pulling you down.
It's not about sitting straight. In fact, when you sit straight, you deprive your back of its naturally curved shape. Ergonomics is about preserving the natural shape of the backbone so that your muscles are at rest and there is no pressure in the joints or the bone.
Ergonomic chairs are chairs that mimic the natural curve of the spine. Some of the most important characteristics of ergonomic chairs are:
Free range of motion so that the user can turn whichever way they want without actually unseating themselves.
Ergonomic chairs lock forward which gives the back and neck greater support.
Provides excellent support to the lumbar area.
Has a movable headrest and possible arm rests too so that the user can sit in the most comfortable positions.
Ergonomic chairs support all the parts of the body that are affected by bad posture, like the head, neck, back, arms and the legs. Therefore, even when people sit on these chairs for hours together, they will not experience any feelings of discomfort or pain.
The importance of ergonomic chairs:
According to Wikipedia, ergonomics is a science of designing the equipment to suit the job and the worker. From this definition, it is clear that ergonomic chairs seek to improve the physical well being of the individual, which in turn betters their mental well being and their performance.
The importance of ergonomic office chairs cannot be overlooked in today's office environment where the standalone chair is perhaps the most commonly used piece of furniture. So, the office chair is the place where most people spend almost all of their productive time. What if people are uncomfortable or in pain when they are in the chair? What happens to their productivity, let alone health?
Populating your office with ergonomic chairs is probably one of the most effective ways of improving productivity in the office. This is because proper body support takes the pain and discomfort out of office desk jobs and allows users to concentrate on what they are doing. They are no longer fixated on their discomforts.