HomeThangs.com Has Introduced A Guide To Ergonomic Office Chairs
(PRWEB) July 30, 2013 -- HomeThangs.com – the Online Home Improvement Store has made their goal to deliver the right product to the consumer. With that in mind, shopping and home design tips, as well as special product selections are being introduced.
For those that work from home or spend any serious amount of time sitting in front of a computer, a good office chair is hands down the most important furnishing in a home office. The desk is a bigger decor statement, and bookshelves and other office equipment are definitely important, but research is finding that how much time is spent sitting can have a huge impact on a person’s overall health. HomeThangs.com has introduced a guide to finding an office chair that not only looks good, but is also supportive, comfortable, and designed to match the amount of time spent sitting in it.
For those that work primarily in front of a computer, choosing a supportive desk chair is crucial. That means upper and lower back support, adjustable arm rests, and an adjustable height. Most office chairs these days are rated by hour – like two, six, eight, or ten –according to the recommended duration of use, and can give a good overall sense of how comfortable the chair is going to be.
If there’s one most important feature to look for in an office chair, it’s lumbar support. Not all chairs have it (though many do), but for anyone that spends a significant amount of time in a desk chair, this feature is key. The lumbar is essentially the lower back and all the muscles, bones, and nerves that make it up, and it’s responsible for carrying most of the body’s weight and facilitating most movement, which is why lower back pain is so common. Chairs with lumbar support help minimize pressure on the lower back and can even help improve posture.
Lumbar support is the feature that’s always talked about when it comes to the ergonomics of office chairs, but upper back and even neck support are important, too. The human spine is naturally curved, and depending on height, not all chairs will fit comfortably with the shape of everybody. Look at least for a chair with an adjustable back height to help ensure a comfortable fit. Higher end chairs are even more customizable, allowing for adjustment of the curve and pitch of the chair back, while mesh-backed chairs conform easily to the shape of the body while still providing support.
What type of arms a desk chair should have is a little more difficult to recommend simply because everyone uses their desk differently, which makes this feature one that’s a little more subjective. Some people simply can’t stand office chairs with arms, while others can’t live without them. Chair arms at a comfortable height can help relieve shoulder strain and pressure on wrists and hands, while ones that are too high or too low can actually make these problems worse. The ideal height for the arms will depend a little on the desk and how it’s used - primarily with a keyboard, a laptop, or for writing by hand – so it’s worth looking for arms that are adjustable.
Now, all this isn’t to say there’s no room for style when it comes to office chairs. These aren’t orthopedic shoes, all utility and no style. In fact, often the most ergonomic office furniture is the most stylish, too – either leather executive chairs or funky modern designs engineered specifically to maximize comfort and support. But it’s an important distinction to make, because there are also plenty of office chairs that are more style than substance. Decorative desk chairs are great for infrequently used computer desks in a public area of the home. Serious sitters, though, should try out chairs if possible, or at least look for specific mention of support features in the product description, catalog, or manual online.
Of course, there are those out there that would argue (and pretty compellingly) that no chair, no matter how well designed, can make up for just how bad sitting for long periods of time is for the body. Unfortunately, the reality is that many people have to spend time at a desk. The result is a lot of hybrid solutions, like desk chairs that encourage more active sitting. For the slightly more adventurous, standing desks eliminate the need for a chair entirely (and also all the negative health effects of sitting). Pairing a standing desk (or high counter or very tall table) with a bar stool can help ease the transition.
To see more of these ergonomic desk chairs, read the full article here, or check out the office collection from Zuo Modern.
HomeThangs.com is not only a home improvement superstore, it also provides expert design tips and a comprehensive shopping guide, taking the ideas from professional interior designers, and offering tips to the consumers on how to pick the products to best suit their needs.
Tanya Tymoshuk, HomeThangs, http://www.homethangs.com, 1-866-278-0880, [email protected]
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