7 Office Chair Features to Consider on Your Next Office Fitout

It’s hard to tally the number of injuries and ailments associated with sitting in an ill-suited office chair. Indeed, most office workers, accustomed to spending upwards of 6 hours a day, 240 (or more) days a year seated, can agree that desk-bound discomforts are no laughing matter.

Circulatory problems, compound strain injuries to the neck, back and shoulders, spinal deformation, decreased focus, digestive issues, fatigue, stress and even obesity – which arise when physical strain limits our mobility, and discomfort or stress causes us to overeat. All this from choosing the wrong office chair! It is paramount that considerable attention is provided to office chair selection when planning an office fitout or renovation.

Poor workstation ergonomics and prolonged sitting can contribute to musculoskeletal problems that affect comfort and quality of life. The good news is, such woes are easily avoided with the right office chair, one that offers a balance of freedom of movement and postural cradling – facilitating upright posture and focus, while preventing slouch and muscular compensation.

Firm cushioning and breathable upholstery can improve comfort while helping minimise pressure, heat and moisture build up during prolonged sitting

The wrong fabric, such as faux leather and other non-porous materials, can make you sweat and stay damp, leading to dry skin, rash and breakouts.

The ability to swivel and roll-on lockable wheels seem like a secondary concern, but there is a reason why most ergonomic office chairs include these mobility features.

A chain of focus or work sprint can be hard to maintain at the best of times, but it will most certainly be broken if parts of your desk surface, drawers, telephone, printer, and other work accessories are inaccessible from your chair.

If you can only reach these items at a stretch or a twist, or have to get up repeatedly to reach one of your work tools, just consider the impacts of a stretch, a twist and a strain on your knees 50 times a day, 240+ days a year.

Armrests should be positioned to support your elbows 2-3” out from your sides while your lower back is supported against your backrest. Adjustable height is a bonus, but not a necessity if you find the right chair.

Armrests help you maintain optimal posture throughout the day and prevent shoulder and neck strain, relieve lower back pressure, and provide leverage and safety support when getting into or out of your chair.

Armrests should have at least a half inch of firm, breathable padding, and should slide neatly under your desk with room to spare for your arms.

The right desk chair will feature a backrest that follows the natural curvature of your spine, to allow for support of the slight arch at the lower end of your back.

It should also be tilt-adjustable (forward and backward, with a locking mechanism), providing comfort during different types of tasks, and adapting to different body types (and belly sizes!).

Partial backrests are not recommended for daily, prolonged use unless they are fully adjustable to provide sufficient neck and lower back support.

The backrest should be wide and high enough to support the user comfortably without restricting movement.

The head should be supported by a slightly raised cushion that fits in the nape of your neck and halfway up the back of your head, or by a height-adjustable headrest that allows you to rest your head while viewing your screen just below eye level.

When it comes to desk chair ergonomics, lumbar support comes in near the top of the feature checklist, mostly because inadequate lumber support can compound into a host of other issues.

Without support for the natural lumber arch mentioned in the previous section, the arch will diminish over time, the shoulders will slouch, and all kinds of associated strain, pains and compensatory aches will ensue.

Some desk chairs have this feature built into the shape of the backrest, but if not, they should at least have a height adjustable cushion or inflatable accessory that can be positioned to support the small of your back.

To provide adequate thigh support and relieve pressure on the tendons, ligaments and blood vessels at the back of your knees, there should be a small gap between the edge of the seat and the back of your knees when sitting fully against the backrest.

The seat should be wide enough to accommodate the user comfortably without restricting movement or creating pressure around the hips and thighs. incorrectly sized seat can create excessive pressure, and prolonged use can restrict blood flow to the legs and create irritation and pain.

The tilt of the seat, believe it or not, can have an impact too, with a slight forward tilt (or an adjustable tilt) being recommended to alleviate pressure on the lower back, by distributing weight evenly over the buttocks and thighs.

A great deal of care and consideration goes into designing and crafting the perfect, ergonomic office chair, and understanding these key features and the reasons behind them is a step toward planning a successful office fitout and providing a healthy work environment for your employees.

The experts at Sensa have you covered and are here to guide you through the process of selecting the perfect desk chairs to suit your valued workforce.

After all, employee wellbeing is a cornerstone of any sustainable enterprise, and their comfort can mean a brighter future for your business.

Contact us to book your free 30 min FREE Consultation with one of our office fitout experts.