HOME PAGE

Why Some Office Chairs Are Better Than Others

Author: Nick Telford
We take some things for granted in life. Take breathing for
instance. It is the most vital function that keeps us
alive; in fact, it is the sign that we are alive! Yet,
breathing happens so automatically that we rarely are
'aware' of it, until we come across an article like this
that reminds us that breathing the right way is important
for good health.

Let us discuss another human activity that you are involved
in 90% of our waking time and yet know so little about -
sitting. You sit at the breakfast table, in the car, and
then again at work in our office chairs. You come back in
the evening to sit or slouch before the TV. With so much of
sitting around, it is quite right to make sure that we are
sitting right!

Office Chairs - Looks Alone Are Not Enough

Work has changed over the years so that most careers
nowadays do not involve too much moving around or actual
physical exercise. Most of the work is done at a desk, in
front of the computer. An incorrect sitting posture or a
wrong office chair can be harmful for your health.

It can cause pain or injury to the back, neck and legs. It
can also cause diseases such as spondylitis and carpal
tunnel syndrome. All these are usually termed as non-
accidental injury at the workplace because they are caused
by normal and routine activities done as part of the job.

The most important thing that you should do to prevent such
injury is to be aware of how you sit and correct your
sitting posture. A good office chair can go a long way in
helping you to sit right.

The chair cannot be too comfortable because it will allow
the body to slouch easily, creating problems. On the other
hand, the office chair cannot be too hard either. While
selecting an office chair, you have to focus on these
aspects and not just the looks or comfort of the chair.

An entire new science is devoted to the study of human
capabilities and health in relation to work demands. This
is called ergonomics.

However, even if you have the best-designed ergonomics
friendly office chair in the world, it is not a wise idea
to keep sitting in it for the whole day! Static activity
for a long time is not good for the back.

You must move out of the chair for at least 5 minutes every
hour. Move around, walk a little and maybe do some
stretching exercises. Your physical fitness will ensure
proper protection against back injury.

About the Author

Nick Telford worked in office environments for more than 30
years. A few years ago he developed back problems, and
discovered it was due to bad posture in his chairs. He
decided to reaearch office chairs, and find out exactly
what is the best way to sit for 8 hours a day or more...
now he's written a series of article to help others.

...

HOME PAGE