When designing the ergonomic office, one has to consider many factors including how much ergonomic equipment and furniture you will require, how many employees you are catering for and what their individual needs are. If you are going the whole hog and having your entire office ergonomically fitted and equipped, there is just about everything you need that has been designed with you in mind, from desks and chairs to mice and keyboards.
Ergonomic chairs should be designed so that the person's spine has proper support and that the user can adjust the chair to the correct height for use at their desk. The chair should be adjustable in several areas including the back and the seat, and, some will even allow you to adjust the tension in the lumbar support area. When choosing a chair, make sure that it has adjustable arm rests, the height can be adjusted, a big enough and well padded seat, a good back rest, firm lumbar support and that it can swivel easily. Your feet should be squarely on the floor or on a proper foot rest. The chair should also be covered in a breathable fabric with enough padding underneath as this will help prevent pressure points forming.
There are many desks to choose from. Your own personal needs should be foremost in your choice as you know what equipment needs to be on the desk. It needs to be the correct height and depth for you to work from and should be chosen in conjunction with your chair. If necessary, your screen can be raised to the correct height with the use of specially made stands for your desk.
A variety of keyboards and mice are available and unless you know what you want, choosing the right keyboard can be a bit of a minefield because if it isn't right for you, it will be no use and therefore a waste of money. First and foremost, the keyboard or mouse should be comfortable in your hands and you should be able to type and use the mouse without strain or discomfort.
The whole point of the ergonomic office is to promote well being, good posture, protect the spine and help prevent conditions such as RSI and back pain. It is therefore vital that you do proper research and try things out before you buy them. Make sure that everything is at the correct level for you to use and that you are not stretching, straining or slouching in your chair. Almost as important is taking a break from time to time and doing some stretching and flexing so that the muscles don't get stiff and tight. After all, there is no point in investing all that money in good furniture and equipment if you are not going to use it properly and take the necessary breaks.
It has become apparent that the ergonomic office chair has become extremely popular within the office environment. It has been discovered that more and more employees are spending more than eight hours each day sat at their desk whilst at work. Therefore the ergonomic office chair has become a very important part of office furniture as it helps to reduce back, shoulder and neck strain caused by sitting in the wrong position. Although an ergonomic office chair may be more expensive than a normal office chair, many companies have found that this initial expense has become a very sound investment in terms of increased productivity of their employees as well as helping to prevent serious injury caused through the strains put on the body whilst employees are sat at their desks.
When you are considering purchasing a good quality ergonomic office chair, there are a number of factors you should take into consideration. The mains that you should take into consideration are does the chair the sitter with an adjustable seat, good lumbar support, backrest, a seat with an adequate amount of depth and width, good arm rests if required and finally the ability to swivel.
Another thing you must look is the instruction manual that will come with your purchase. Ensure that you have read it thoroughly and that all adjustment mechanisms (i.e., lumbar support, back rest, chair height) are in good working condition. If you find that the chair is defective then return it.
The next most important thing to remember when you are selecting an ergonomic office chair is that there is no "best fit" for the different body types where this type of chair is concerned. What may suit one person may not be ideal for someone else. Wherever it is possible try the chair out before making your purchase. However, if you are unable to try the product before purchase, then ensure that you can obtain a refund if the chair is not the one for you.
Finally, it is important that you understand the correct posture you should be in when sat in an ergonomic office chair. Remember an essential part of an ergonomic office chair is that the seat height allows the users feet to remain flat on the floor whist working. Also it is essential that the chair offers good lumbar support and fits with the inward curve of the lower back, and that the chair seat remains comfortable after you have been sat on it for long periods of time. If you have armrests attached to your chair then these should allow your shoulders to remain in a relaxed position at all times.
As you will see there are many new chairs appearing on the market in place of the traditional ergonomic office chair and there are several types of chair that also help to place the user in the correct position. You may find it takes some time to get used to this type of chair, but they are certainly the idea alternative for anyone who suffers from discomfort or chronic back pain whilst sat at their desks during the working day.
Both Graham Baylis & Allison Thompson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.