Ergonomic Chairs: Are They Worth It?

We all know the pain of working at our desks for too long. Your posture gets slouchy, your chair feels stiff, and it seems like no matter what position, you can not feel comfortable anymore. The problem continues on a loop every day, but is there a solution? The first thing you may think about is an adjustable standing desk so you can alternate between standing and sitting but are there other solutions? Well, let’s broaden that scope and introduce yourself to the world of ergonomics! An ergonomic environment is crucial to any workspace. It is the difference between comfortability and uncomfortability while working. Unfortunately, not every workplace supplies its employees with ergonomic workspaces.

Before we get into the benefits, let’s take a look at what the best ergonomic chair looks like. The typical ergonomic chair compliments your body well, focusing on height, and adjusting to your specific size. For peak optimization, your screen should hit the same level as your eyes when you sit down, and your distance should be within 18-36 inches away (18 if you have one monitor; 36 if you have two). Good ergonomic chairs also come with armrests so your arms can take a break from feeling the hard surface of a desk (some armrests are adjustable as well).

Now that we know what a typical ergonomic chair looks like, the question remains, why get one? Well, though they may not look like much of a difference, ergonomic chairs provide many health benefits. The first and, most definitely, primary health benefit is that this chair is supposed to help correct your posture naturally. This helps prevent slouching. An everyday occurrence with any office worker. Along with the improved posture, it helps reduce back pain, reducing the inevitable chronic pain that most individuals with desk jobs are prone to in their lifetime. What also helps with reducing the risks of back pain is the extra padding that certain ergonomic chairs come with. This way, there is no uncomfortably when working for long periods.

One thing that may surprise most individuals is that your blood flow is impaired when sitting down and does not give out the proper circulation your body needs. This can cause some potential health deficits down the road, like cardiovascular problems and heart disease. In addition, studies have shown that sitting for just an hour can increase blood flow problems within the body. With an ergonomic chair, however, these health risks are significantly reduced.

Ergonomic chairs also last a longer time than regular chairs. This is because of the material used, the equipment, and the overall luxury this office chair gives out. Speaking of luxury, because these chairs have anything you would need to feel comfortable sitting in them, they can be quite costly, ranging from about $150-400, according to Staples. It is also known that replacing specific mechanisms within the chair might be difficult because the materials are not used for most chairs, making it a supply and demand issue. However, there are long-term warranties for good ergonomic chairs, so most companies can find you another chair that works correctly.

Yes, ergonomic chairs are expensive, but this might be the only issue you’ll most likely find when running into one. Most ergonomic chairs do not run into technical problems because they are built to last a long time. So, if you are someone who works at a desk all day and might be afraid of suffering severe health issues down the road, this type of chair might be something worth investing in. Who knows, it might even save your life down the road. After all, most offices seem to be going down the same ergonomic route anyway. So, why not hop on the ergonomic bandwagon and save your back from a lot of chronic pain. You might be thankful you did.