How do I know if my office chair is suitable for me?
There are hundreds of different chairs out there that have a variety of accessories and options, so the question is: Which is the best for me?
The most important thing to consider if whether your current chair is comfortable. Most chairs can be adjusted to accommodate the worker, however there are times when a chair is just not suitable for the worker.
This can particularly be an issue for people with shorter legs where their feet don’t touch the ground. Similarly, tall people with long legs often need a larger seat pan to sit on to accommodate their thighs. They might also require a chair with a higher backrest to support their back.
Below are some simple tips you can use to test whether your computer chair is suitable for you.
Tip 1: When sitting back into your chair, place your hand between the back of your knee and the chair. Ideally we like to have a gap of 3-4 fingers
Tip 2: Set your chair at a height where your knees and hips are at 90 degree angles. Then when sitting in at your desk with shoulder relaxed, your elbows should be resting just above the height of the desk. This will reduce the chance of awkward shoulder postures associated with low seat heights.
Tip 3: A good chair will typically have 5 points of contact with the ground (5 legs) and three levers: one for chair height, one for backrest adjustability and one for backrest tilt. Become familiar with the controls on these as it is important particularly if you work in an environment where other colleagues may use your workspace.
If you are concerned that your desk setup might be contributing to your neck or back pain, consider contacting us for an ergonomic assessment.
