For months on end my assistant sat in a typical swivel office chair. It had a cushioned seat but after long periods of time she complained that her sitting bones would start to ache and she would constantly have to shift positions. Her back seemed to develop a hunched position even when she wasn't at the computer. I finally realized I had to do something because all her aches and pains were slowing her down and she would have to take long breaks away from her sitting tasks. Then lo and behold, I accidentally came across some information on ergonomic chairs and office chairs and light bulb - oh, there is a better chair.



After much research I found the perfect ergonomic chair. It is not just an ergonomically designed chair which I will explain further, it's a true ergonomic chair. She could work for much longer periods at the computer without any aches or pains and have good lumbar support so no longer has that hunched over look.

Sitting at computer workstations that are not designed with ergonomics in mind also can contribute to problems like carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive stress injuries. What you need to look for in an ergonomic chair depends a lot on what you'll be using the chair for. Incorrect ergonomics can cause back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, and other medical problems.

No matter what the task, an ergonomic chair or ergonomic office chair will pay for itself fast due to less pain and the increased productivity you can count on. Try out several of the office chairs at Costco, furniture, office supply and back-care stores before you decide on the best ergonomic chair for you. When buying an ergonomic chair you'll want to choose a good ergonomic chair that has all the necessary features and adjustments you need and still be affordable.

The more expensive ergonomic executive office chair usually has an adjustable headrest or neck rest and usually has upholstered back rests and upholstered arms. Fabric selection is important with the ergonomic industrial chair as cleaning it could be an issue. And ergonomic intensive use chairs are very durable and especially need to be ergonomic in design, because workers are typically sitting for long stretches.

Managers' chairs usually have a knee tilt mechanism, which is just perfect for multi-tasking, making it easy to go from computer work to phone conferences with great ease. Ergonomic task chairs and seating usually have a lower back design for greater movement in the computer workstation and these task chairs are available with or without arms.

Look for durable, permeable, ventilated fabric or material and check out the mesh pellicle material in the more expensive Aeron chair, which also conforms nicely to the body. And adequate lumbar support in an ergonomic chair is the most crucial element of a backrest. A seat pan with a sliding mechanism is also a beneficial feature because it allows small and tall users to adjust the distance from the back rest.

Inadequate lumbar support places excess unwanted pressure on the spine. Take a look at the chair's height. It should allow the wrists to be straight while typing. As with backrest angle adjustability, a reclined chair transfers some of the upper body weight to the backrest of the ergonomic chair. Make sure when you sit in the chair it reclines a little.

It's important to buy an ergonomic chair which uses dense, small-cell foam padding or spring coils to retain its support and cushioning, usually found only in the higher quality office chairs. Notice when you change the tilt on an ergonomic chair, the angle between the seat pan and the backrest stays the same. Both home office and outside office ergonomics are important because we spend a lot more hours both working at the office or home office and using the computer when at home.

If you can't afford the best quality Aeron chair make sure to find an ergonomic chair or ergonomic office chair that is a truly ergonomic. Many good deals can be had online and at office furniture consignment and resale shops. And you can sometimes get the Aeron chair used online or at office furniture consignment stores. In any event, getting the perfect ergonomic chair will make you more productive because you will be working smarter.