When considering buying an office chair, most company owners don’t really pay much attention to the actual advantages of an ergonomic office chair. However, as you will see, the stats speak for themselves on how important making sure you’re using a good chair can be.
If you work a regular 40-hour a week job, you might consider that the time spent in your office chair is minimal. However, even considering that only 75% of that time is spent in your actual chair, the number you’re looking at during the course of just 20 years is about 31,200 hours, which is the equivalent of more than 3.5 years spent non-stop in your office chair. Now, double that if you plan on working at a desk for 40 years before retirement – it ain’t a pretty picture.
Considering these numbers, you can probably see how sitting years on end at the same chair could end up causing irreparable damage to your back. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way. Knowing how to choose a high quality, ergonomic office chair can make all the difference in the long run.
The Qualities of a Good Office Chair
You’ll find that the advantages of an ergonomic office chair made especially for the type of office environment that you and your employees are working in can have lasting benefits for the person using the chair. Here are some of the most important to keep in mind:
- The first thing to look for is good lumbar support. This is a quality that most experts cannot stress enough, since a lot of people working in an office for a few years can develop lumbar problems. The best office chairs will have excellent lower back support to promote a healthier back and prevent back strain, which can degenerate, in time, into sciatica.
- Adjustability is another important trait to look for in the best ergonomic office chairs. This doesn’t mean just being able to spin and recline your chair. Each area – such as the height, arm rests and backrest – should feature separate adjustable settings, so you can easily find the configuration that works best for you.
- A wheel and swivel base is also essential for comfort as well as health. Swiveling can save you from twisting your back through unnatural movements. Additionally, if you buy an office chair that features wheels specifically designed for the type of surface that your office has (such as hardwood OR carpeting) then you can prevent further health and comfort-related problems that you or your employees might face.
- Finally, you should pay special attention to the fabric of the office chairs you buy. The fabric should be breathable enough to provide lasting support when the persona sitting down remains seated for hours on end, even in an environment where there is no proper air conditioning.
Finding Affordable Office Chairs
You don’t necessarily have to find the newest office chairs on the market. On the contrary, buying new, expensive office chairs without taking into account their ergonomic qualities can be far worst than making an informed decision on second-hand chairs.
Good quality second-hand office chairs are typically available at prices of below $200 per chair, and will provide you with a lot of the advantages of their newer counterparts. Moreover, many of them won’t be too worn out, especially if they weren’t used for more than a year or so.