It's crucial to spend money on a chair that will provide you with proper support and be comfortable because your posture can have a big impact on your health and wellbeing.
Your chair should also be suited for the type of work or activity you are engaged in. If you spend most of your day sitting down, this is crucial. If your chair is set up correctly, it can aid your posture and prevent wrist, shoulder, and back problems.
This blog post will give you a comprehensive guide on how to adjust your ergonomic office chair features included in an ergonomic chair, the optimal way to set up your work space and the best ergonomic office chairs in NZ.
Table of Contents
5 Important Adjustments for your Ergonomic Office Chair
Other Features of Ergonomic Office Chairs
Additional Accessories for your Ergonomic Office Chair
How to Set Up an Ergonomic Workspace
6 Best Ergonomic Office Chairs in NZ
5 Important Adjustments for your Ergonomic Office Chair
Sitting in an uncomfortable chair for long hours can cause chronic pain, fatigue, and poor posture. To ensure maximum comfort and support while working, it is important to adjust your office chair according to your body type. Making the right adjustments to your ergonomic office chair can make a huge difference in terms of comfort and support.
Seat height adjustment
The height adjustment lever is typically found under the seat, on the right side, and towards the front. You can adjust the height while seated in your chair by pulling the lever marked with "up and down arrows" (on some chairs, pressing down on the lever activates the height adjustment). Your elbows should be at desk height when the seat height is adjusted. Ensure your feet are flat on the floor and the backrest supports your back. If not, we advise using a footrest. Your lower back and thigh-side pressure will be relieved as a result.
Seat angle adjustment
Ergonomic office chairs allow you to adjust the seat angle from the horizontal position - slightly angled forward. Usually, the lever to activate the seat angle is placed on the right-hand side. Sitting with the seat horizontal or sloping slightly provides a comfortable, relaxing position while maintaining good posture. Sitting on a slight angle, in a forward position towards your desk, relieves pressure under the thighs, provides a more open hip angle, and improves comfort – mainly if engaged in many hours of keyboard work.
Back angle adjustment
The back angle adjustment allows the back of your chair to angle both back and forward at around a 100 to 110-degree angle. Your bottom should be pressed against the back of your chair, and the back cushion should cause your lower back to arch slightly. This can help to minimize the load on your back and lessen the tendency to slump or slouch.
Backrest height adjustment
A comfortable computer chair will have well-shaped and supportive backrest cushioning. The part of the back that protrudes forward (the lumbar support) should fit snugly into your lower back – at about waist level. The Backrest height adjustment may differ from chair to chair. There may be a knob at the bottom and rear of the backrest. Alternatively, if there is no knob, you most likely have a ratchet-style adjustment. Ratchet style adjustments work by simply lifting the back upwards, one 'click' at a time, until it has reached the preferred position. Once the backrest comes to the top position, it will drop to the bottom starting position again.
Armrest height adjustment
While armrests can provide support for your forearms and wrists, they may also contribute to poor posture. This particularly applies if they prevent you from sitting in the ideal position concerning your desktop. Preferably, your armrests will be adjustable and able to adjust so they won't become an impediment when moving your chair toward your desk. One important consideration is the position of the armrests once adjusted. They should be changed so that your forearms and wrists are horizontal – this is essential if you do a lot of keyboard work.
Other Features of Ergonomic Office Chairs
An ergonomic office chair is one of the most important pieces of furniture in any workplace. It provides comfort and support while sitting, which helps to reduce fatigue, improve posture, and increase productivity. Ergonomic chairs come in a variety of styles and designs, so it's important to choose one that is right for you.
Seat Slide
Some chairs have a slide-out seat available. You may change the seat depth of your chair by sliding the seat back and forth. This feature allows you a more comfortable seated experience depending on your height. Whereas a taller person would adjust the seat a little further away from the backrest, a shorter person should adjust the seat closer to the backrest. The ideal seating position calls for a fist-sized space between the back of your knees and the front edge of the chair.
Head Rest
According to its name, a headrest supports your head. When your chair is reclined, this feature is helpful even if it is less significant when sitting upright. Because the user is typically seated upright and working at a keyboard, many ergonomic seats lack a headrest. Choosing a high-back chair over a mid-back chair is preferable if the chair you select can recline and does not have a headrest. A chair with a high back will support your upper back and, to some extent, your neck and head.
Additional Accessories for your Ergonomic Office Chair
You should be able to put your feet firmly on the ground and have your knees roughly at the level of your hips after adjusting your chair to the proper settings. Moreover, whether typing or using a mouse, keep your wrists straight, your upper arms close to your body, and keep your hands at, or just below, elbow level. If not, then adopting the following accessories will probably be advantageous for you:
Footrest
The pressure on the back of your lower back and the inside of your thighs will be relieved by an adjustable footrest. Making sure that you are sat at the appropriate height in respect to your desktop will also be beneficial.
Monitor Arm
The height of your display should be taken into account after you have properly positioned your chair in relation to the height of your desktop. Are your eyes nearly parallel to the screen's top edge? Do you have your screen at about arm's length? If not, a monitor arm might be useful. One thing to keep in mind is that bifocal glasses wearers might require the screen to be lowered in height.
In order to keep the proper posture and work more comfortably throughout the day, using a footrest or monitor arm can make a big difference.
How to Set Up an Ergonomic Workspace
If your overall work setup and working style are not taken into consideration, no matter how fantastic your chair is, issues may still occur. There are frequently little variations in body position during the day when working at a computer. Strain and injury to the muscles could result from this immobility.What can be done, then, to lessen the likelihood of workplace injuries?
For every hour spent at a desk, it is advised that a person take a 5- to 10-minute break. Also, if you can, get up and perform an activity like walking, standing-only work chores, or just a simple body position shift. Stretches can be performed concurrently. Other ideas include:
- Changing up your workload. By performing other professional responsibilities that require movement, you can break up keyboarding work.
- Every so often, turn your head away from the screen and fix your gaze on something far away.
- Attempt to relax your muscles, stretch, and alter your position. Hold the stretch for ten to twenty seconds.
- Not with your legs crossed. Legs crossed while seated for an extended period of time might lead to pelvic tilt, shoulder arthroplasty, and forward head posture. Keep in mind to maintain a smooth surface with both feet.
- Keep your back straight and shoulders back.
- Your posture, health, focus, and productivity should all improve significantly after properly setting up your chair and putting some of the following suggestions into practice.
If you are a manager or business owner, you might want to include a review of your office furniture and workspace configuration in your health and safety protocols. This could ensure that the crew is working pleasantly, safely, and in an atmosphere that is ergonomically sound.
6 Best Ergonomic Office Chairs in NZ
An ergonomic office chair is an essential piece of furniture for any modern workplace. It not only helps to improve your posture and reduce the risk of back pain, but it also increases your productivity and comfort. With so many different types of office chairs available on the NZ market today, it's important to choose the right one for you.Whether you prefer a traditional leather chair or something more modern and stylish, there is an ergonomic office chair in Agile that will meet your needs.
EDEN Spectrum 3 Long & Wide Seat
The Eden Spectrum 3 Long and Wide Seat comes in three colors and can be customized with or without arms. It has an extra large seat with a one-of-a-kind design. The high backrest makes lumbar support possible. It also includes a tilt tension adjustment.
The Roma High Back 24/7 chair is made to offer the most support and comfort possible. It can be adjusted for seat height, tilt, slide, and back angle, among other things. Also, it includes a roomy seat and a ratchet adjustment for the height of the lumbar/back region.
This chair may be used for long periods of time due to the postural support and ergonomic qualities it provides. A sturdy, high-quality chair that is appropriate for people who work long hours.
The Roma 3 Lever High Back chair has good lumbar support, is comfortable, and is adequately proportioned. Additionally, it has received approval to the widely accepted AFRDI Level 6 standard and has the support of the Australian Physiotherapy Association. The seat height, tilt, and back angle may all be altered. For lumbar/back height adjustment, it also incorporates a ratchet. The postural support and ergonomic qualities of this chair allow it to be used for longer periods of time.
Several ergonomic elements are incorporated into the Cloud 2.0 Work Chair to offer comfort and support throughout an average workday. They include adjustable lumbar support, high density seat foam, and a back tilt adjustment.
Many ergonomic elements in the best-selling Lennox Mesh Back office chair ensure comfort all day long. These features include an adjustable lumbar support as well as a back tilt mechanism that can be secured in an upright position. This chair comes with a mesh black back and seat.
A heavy-duty multi-adjustable mechanism with extensive seat and back support is one of the features. The backrest features adjustable lumbar and shoulder support and a contemporary square design. The Sport chair is the perfect computer/task chair thanks to its roomy seat and luxurious comfort cushioning.
Investing in a quality ergonomic office chair today can help to ensure that you remain comfortable and productive throughout the day.
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