Choosing a proper ergonomic chair

Hey guys!

This is my first post to Steemit. I am a canadian kinesiologist (as you might have guessed from my surname) and ergonomist since 2009. I have adjusted thousands of workstations and seen a lot of people with different MSDs. My goal with this post is to provide you with useful information in how to make better choices when choosing proper work furniture, make yourself more comfortable, and limit the risk of developping musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs). A lot of that has to do with how you work, but your tools are equally important.

This post will be about buying ergonomic chairs for your home, or even corporate office. I’m aware that stand-up desks, even treadmill desks, are all the rage these days, pushed by dramatic headlines such as « sitting all day increases your risk of death » and by exercise-and-movement-buffs such as Kelly Starett with « Deskbound » and Katy Bowman with « Move Your DNA ». As much as I liked those books and approve of them, most offices won’t have you sit on the ground and give you a playground of tools to change positions. Even if you’re going to « sit » in a « sit-stand » workstation, you’re going to need a proper chair that’s properly adjustable.  

What do I mean by "properly adjustable" ? Well, if you're the average female standing at 5'5'' or the average male standing at 5'9'', do you really think that your arm length, torso length and leg length is similar to the next guy or gal? Not a chance. So having a chair that's adjustable in many respects should accommodate your little eccentricities, such as short upper arms or long shins. In fact, chair manufacturers should (big "should" there) try to accomodate 90 percent of the population with a single chair.

And let’s not kid ourselves – human beings are pretty resilient. We can tolerate large amounts of punishment with no apparent sign of discomfort… usually until a « floodgate » breaks. Often, people sit in chairs with a poor posture that’s been continuously maintained for months or years when suddenly, a MSD settles in. Healing up and "going back up the hill" takes weeks, if not months! If you’re a desk-bound warrior, having a proper chair is a great step towards limiting the risk of MSDs, making you more comfortable, and as such, make you more productive.   

If I had to cite one mistake that the average consumer, or even buyers in most corporate offices do is that they buy chairs because they look good, not because they’re "ergonomic". Even worse, some furniture suppliers have agreements with chair companies to push each others products! If you are going to buy a chair for yourself, cut through the fluff and look for the buff.  Look for a checklist at the end of this post!

A chair has to be versatile. It means that the following parts of the chair should be adjustable : 

- Adjustable seat height & tilt.
- A firm backrest ; no mesh, folks.
- Adjustable backrest height & tilt (independently of the seat!).
- Adjustable armrests in height & width.
- Bonus points if the seat pan can slide forward and backwards (depth adjustement – useful for tall people).
- Bonus points if the armrest’s surface can slide forward and backwards (useful if you use a keyboard tray).  

 You can usually find those characteristics listed on the specifications of the chair you’re looking at. If you’re in a showroom, ask the representative or ask for an instructions booklet. Don’t get drawn in by mesh backrests who don't offer solid lumbar support ; refrain from being amazed by the fancy buttons of a futuristic-looking chair. As boring as it may sounds, if you find a chair with 3 handles sticking out from underneath the right side of the seat, it’s probably a winner.  

A chair has to be easy to adjust. While it might seem like an odd criteria, I frequently meet people with fancy chairs who have no idea how to adjust them! Handles and knobs that are in plain sight and easy to reach are not stylish, but easy to find and remember. Avoid hidden buttons with no pictograms. To quote Einstein, "Everything should be as simple as it can be, but not simpler ".

A chair has to be durable. A good ergonomic chair will last you 10 years and probably longer. If you are forking out a couple hundred bucks and the manufacturer doesn’t offer at least a 5-year warranty, it’s probably junk.  

 A chair has to be comfortable. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the cushioning should be thick – in fact, if the cushioning is thick and compresses heavily when you sit on it, you probably have low-density foam under you. The problem with low-density foam is not the initial comfort, which is awesome! It’s the slow but certain compression of the daily grind which will eventually leave you with a brick to rest your delicate buttocks on. If you have the opportunity to try a chair, try it for 15 minutes – then you’ll know if the cushion has a chance of standing an 8-hour workday.  

 

Here are a couple of examples of chairs that I find suitable. Be aware that if the criteria above are respected, throwing more money at a chair usually means better comfort and durability. It's a rough estimation but you should be able to get okay, low-end chairs starting at 150$, and the benefits top off at around 1000$. So, without further ado, let's see some examples of chairs you can find on the market :

  - This Staples chair is very standard. The three levers on the right-hand side tell me that seat height & tilt are adjustable, as well as the backrest tilt. You can see the backrest’s backbone behind the chair, so the lumbar support is adjustable in height also. The armrests are height and depth-adjustable. 

- This Ergocentric chair is fully-equipped, including a seat depth adjustment, which is particularly appreciated by taller people. Far from the prettiest, in my eyes it’s beauty comes from function and not form. It's a bit costlier than the other models here, so regular consumers rarely go for them.

- This OFM chair, found on Amazon, looks far worse than it is. Fully adjustable (plus seat depth!) for a reasonable price, it’ll do the trick for home usage.

  Sometimes it helps to see not only good model of chairs, but also chairs which are not adequate. Here are a few I would not recommend :  

  - You can order chairs from Amazon – although I wouldn’t want it to be this one. Adjustable just in height, you might find the backrest too far backwards for your taste. Your upper arms might be too long or short for the armrests of the chair, resulting in tension in your shoulders. The lumbar support will almost definitely be too low, even if you are five feet tall. It’s pretty outside, ugly inside. 

  - This Steelcase chair, although looking minimalist and slick, barely allows seat height adjustment and armrest height adjustment. Beyond an hour per day of sitting, I would not recommend it. 

-   This Humanscale chair prides itself on being mobile and « supporting the user in their movements ». A noble idea at first glance, but impractical in reality. In order to minimise poor posture, I want something firm for my clients to sit on. The slight « give » users experience encourages them to fidget and is usually a greater distraction than anything else.  

Bottom line

Ergonomic chairs are a black box for most people, and it shouldn't be. Don't let manufacturers pull wool over your eyes : style should not be the prime factor when considering buying a chair, versatility in adjustement should. 

Also, I absolutely have to remind you guys that while a proper chair is important, movement still remains a key to comfort. Even the best chair will make you sore if you're still for a couple of hours. Go grab water, read those e-mails while standing up, answer the phone on your feet, go to the bathroom! Any excuse is a good excuse to get up, contract some muscles and get some blood pumping in the system.

If after all this your first question is "Well... it's all well and good, but how do I adjust my chair?", excellent question! This will be the topic of my next post.

Until then guys, have an awesome day!

CHECKLIST

- Adjustable seat height & tilt.
- A firm backrest. No mesh.
- Adjustable backrest height & tilt (independently of the seat).
- Adjustable armrests in height & width.
- Bonus : Can the seat surface slide? (depth adjustment)
- Bonus : Can the armrest surface slide?
- Handles or levers easy to see and access when seated
- At least a 5-year warranty.
- Comfortable to sit for at least 15 minutes.