Almost any job these days involves using a computer. In fact, that’s all some people do all day long. This can actually cause more stress to your body than a more physically demanding occupation, because most chairs aren’t designed to properly support your body in a seated position. However, by investing in an ergonomic task chair, you’ll be able to forestall much of the muscle discomfort and damage to your spine that you might otherwise experience.
There are certain features that are essential in a good ergonomic task chair:
* You must be able to adjust the height and angle of the seat
* The armrest height must be adjustable
* You should be able to move the backrest up and down to suit your height, and it should also be able to tilt
* The chair must be able to swivel so you don’t injure your back muscles as you turn
* It must have a sturdy, five point base
* The casters must glide effortlessly without sticking
If you’re looking for even greater support and comfort, some of the higher end chairs have features that provide a virtually custom fit to your body:
* The Herman Miller Aeron chair, available in three sizes to suit all bodies, is made of patented mesh fabric that supports your body in cool comfort, and it also has a lumbar adjustment that can be fine tuned up to four inches
* The Steelcase Leap chair has LiveBack technology that molds itself to your spine and copies the movements of your back. It also features vented upholstery for better breathability and moisture reduction.
* The Humanscale Freedom chair is virtually self-adjusting, responding continuously to your body’s movements. It can be purchased with either a low or high cylinder to suit your height, and it has a comfortable, supportive headrest and sculpted cushioning.