The terms computer ergonomics and office ergonomics are often used to mean exactly the same thing; they’re usually referring to body-adapted ergonomic chairs, office chairs, stools, desks, keyboards, mice, etc.
Sitting at workstations that are not designed with ergonomics in mind can contribute to chronic problems like carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive stress injuries. Incorrect ergonomics can cause back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, and many other medical problems. No matter what the task, an ergonomic chair will pay for itself fast due to experiencing less pain and increased productivity.
You may be looking for a new chair but if you’re willing to buy a used chair you may be able to find a used true ergonomic chair, ergonomic office chair or a relatively expensive chair like the Aeron chair online or on eBay. It’s not likely you’ll find a cheap ergonomic chair or office chair.
The ergonomic executive office chair generally has an adjustable headrest or neck rest. If you’re in a laboratory setting, you may need an ergonomic lab chair or stool on a tall cylinder with or without arms and when you’re working on a taller stool you’ll need to consider a foot rest to give you the right support for your feet, including your ankles and knees. The task chairs also have height-adjustable, pivoting arm rests and oversized and linear tracking arms.
Ergonomic intensive use chairs are very durable and especially need to be ergonomic in design, because workers are usually sitting for many hours. Intensive use chairs or seating, also known as 24/7 seating, is for dispatch room security monitoring areas, control rooms, and 911 emergency dispatch offices. There are stores online that can build an ergonomic lab chair or lab stool chair to your specification if you can’t find one that fits your needs.
Some seat pans adjust easily for either a forward or backward tilt. The hydraulic seat height adjustment allows the user to adjust the chair so the feet can rest on the floor or footrest and the upper body is properly aligned with the computer monitor, keyboard and mouse. The chair-recline or tilt adjustment changes the angle of the entire seat.
Armrests alleviate the pressure on the back but may interfere with lower desks. Adequate lumbar support is the most crucial element of a backrest. As with backrest angle adjustability, a reclined chair transfers some of the upper body weight to the backrest.
The tilt mechanism maintains support as you move and recline; it’s best to have your back in a slightly reclined position while seated at your desk. Adjustable height and width are absolutely necessary when buying a chair with armrests; the armrest should be made of a soft material and should be at least 2″ wide to provide an adequate surface area. It’s important to purchase a chair which uses dense, small-cell foam padding or spring coils to retain its support and cushioning, usually found in higher quality chairs.
You can sometimes find the more expensive Aeron chair used online or at office furniture consignment stores if you’re looking for a used chair. Whenever you see the designation ergonomically designed, it may not be truly ergonomic and just a marketing ploy. These chairs may have a couple of features that are ergonomic. If you can’t afford a new Aeron chair find another brand that is a true ergonomic chair.