All posts by ergonomic office chairs

Mirus Office Chairs

The latest addition to the Ergohuman chair range, the Mirus office chair boasts the ingeniously simple single lever control which operates the three most frequently used chair functions. Seat height, seat depth and back tilt can all be operated from a single point of contact.

Mirus Office Chairs Head Rest
Mirus Office Chairs Head Rest

The design concept of the Mirus chair also incorporates a multi directional interactive neck roll which can help to relax tired neck and shoulder muscles. The 3-dimensional automatic flexible lumbar support system provides full support to the lumbar region with interactive and dynamic movement, intuitively adjusting to your needs. A ‘zero pressure’ seat cushion helps to distribute weight evenly across the seat pad to provide maximum comfort.

Mirus Office Chair 3D Headrest
Mirus Office Chair 3D Headrest

The Mirus chair is 98% recyclable, has Greenguard Indoor Air Quality certification and meets EN 1335. Available in a choice of white and aluminium frame, black and aluminium frame or all-black frame with a mesh back and fabric seat, the colour combinations are contemporary and exciting.

Mirus Office Chairs
Mirus Office Chairs

The Mirus Mesh Chair is available in three frame finishes – white, black and polished aluminium/black; with the choice of the unique MD-flex headrest, adjustable 3D headrest or headrest-free, combined with an extensive selection of coloured mesh and fabrics creating an almost unlimited variation to suit your requirements.

Mirus Mesh Office Chair
Mirus Mesh Office Chair Flexible Lumbar Support

Height Adjustable Desks

Ergonomics is all about choosing something that fits the individual like a Electric Height Adjustable Desk Similar to choosing a suit or a pair of jeans, if the item feels good, then so do you. That’s why ergonomic desks come in all shapes and sizes, taking on board the person and the responsibilities of the job.

The height of a desk or table normally falls within 24 and 27 inches and, with an ergonomic chair, the set-up should be that the user’s lower arms lie horizontally on the armrests, to meet the desk comfortably. But a chair is height adjustable, meaning that if a tall person is sitting in the ergonomic chair, there may be little clearance for the legs under the desk and the forearms may be on a downward slope, as they reach the keyboard. It therefore makes sense that desks are also height-adjustable.

So, when the ergonomic office chair and the height-adjustable desk come together, they should be covering the following points:-

• The legs slide comfortably under the desk and the person’s feet sit firmly on the floor (someone with restricted growth may make use of an ergonomic footrest, to achieve ideal posture)

• The forearms are positioned horizontally, using the armrests for full support, so that hands meet the desk comfortably, without any need to bend the wrists unnaturally

• The monitor is placed directly in front of the user but set back at least 20 inches and its height should be such that the eyes look down ever so slightly, to read the screen. Some ergonomic desks have an extra shelf attached to the back of the desk top, on which a monitor can stand, though getting the eye-to-screen mathematics right is paramount, when making a desk choice. There are also monitor lift arms, which can mount a monitor at the right height for the individual

• The desk is not too deep, that reaching becomes an issue.

Ergonomic desks come in a variety of shapes – the normal rectangular, L shaped, curved front, rounded edges, split level and also with suspended keyboard tray. Height-adjustable tables also cater for work which is better done standing up e.g. looking at plans and pointing to information being discussed, or sorting information into folios or piles where, without that extra height, stooping would be necessary.

Working out what’s right for you may seem a bit of a challenge but, with the above information, you can see what ergonomics is all about. Like that suit or pair of jeans, you now know what you’re looking for.

Whats left is a ergonomic office chair like the Active Ergonomics Flo Chair or the heavy duty Bodybilt chair

Bodybilt Heavy Duty Office Chairs
Bodybilt Heavy Duty Office Chairs
Active Ergonomics Flo Chair from OrangeBox
 
Active Ergonomics Flo Chair from OrangeBox
Electric Height Adjustable Desks
Electric Height Adjustable Desks

Ergonomic Office Chairs, Comfort and Adjustability

An ergonomic chair means that the seating matches both the person’s physical needs and job responsibilities so, to do this, it has to be adjustable.

Imagine the user – tall, short, thin, overweight, disabled in some way – adjustments need to be made to the ergonomic chair, to suit that particular worker.

The seat needs to be height-adjustable, both for leg length and body / back length. The chair should have an in-built lumbar support panel which, with adjustment, both height and tilt-wise, can be positioned to meet the person’s lumbar region and also support the natural curve of the spine. The seat itself will have a 16 to 20 inch height adjustment range, to make the average person’s feet comfortably touch the floor and pneumatic height adjustment allows for effortless change to the seat requirement. For people who have restricted growth, an ergonomic footstool will make feet to base contact successful, as the height of the chair needs to tally with the desk height.

The seat base itself should also allow for tilt and an ideal angle is for the front to slope downwards a little, as this takes any pressure off the knee joint area and thus supports continued good circulation in the lower legs. The seat density should not be too soft, as its purpose is to support your weight firmly and comfortably.

Arm height adjustment is also an ergonomic necessity, so support can be given to the lower arms, as they reach to meet the desk or keyboard. Getting this height right will go a long way to preventing hand / wrist problems, such as repetitive strain injury (RSI) and carpal tunnel syndrome. There is also an item called a wrist rest, a light-weight article which helps get that angle between wrist and keyboard right, again supporting joints and prolonging comfort.

Getting the chair right for the user will involve trial and error and, after a few days of usage, perfect settings can be reached, making sure that the ergonomic chair does what it is supposed to do. Consider, however, that after a holiday or a long period away from work, someone else may have made use of the chair, and possibly adjusted the settings.

Buying an ergonomic chair is an investment in both health and work performance. Sitting, with correct support given where it is needed, will make for a more comfortable and satisfying day of work.

Ergonomic Office Chairs
 
 
Ergonomic Office Chairs
Ergohuman Office Chairs
Ergohuman

Better Posture

If you sit poorly, it doesn’t take your muscles long to think that this position is the way it’s going to be and your muscles work alongside this bad posture, causing an imbalance in muscle support. Also, if you slouch, you are restricting digestion, circulation and breathing and your bones aren’t too happy about it either.

Knowing about good posture is very important but, whilst looking for this information, I came across a mention of how bad posture affects more than just your back.

Once the aches and pain start in places like your neck, shoulders and back, maintaining a sitting position for any length of time becomes difficult and you may have to restrict sitting to twenty minutes or so, then move around to give your muscles and your skeletal frame a change of position, before returning to your earlier task.

If you have a job that allows regular movement e.g. a shop assistant, moving and changing position is part and parcel of the requirements of the post. If you are in a sedentary job (the list is endless!), that earlier acquired bad posture and its accompanying aches and pains is going to cause havoc e.g. discomfort, irritability, distraction and concentration problems.

The truth is that we probably don’t know what good posture entails i.e. does it mean more than sitting with a straight back?

So, these points indicate a good sitting posture but that’s not the end of the story. The chair is only good for you if it’s ‘user-friendly’ in relation to the height of your table or desk, as your forearms need to reach the task in a horizontal position.

Good posture includes having your feet firmly on the floor: dangling feet and crossed legs are definitely ‘no go’ areas. Your tailbone should be right up to the back of the chair and so should your back, unless you are slanting slightly forward, in which case the line between your head, chest and pelvis should be straight (not curved).

This is where ergonomic office chairs are worth their weight in gold. They adjust not only to support your back but also to meet your height. The arm rests can be adjusted to ensure horizontal support for your hands and, together, you are sitting comfortably and working well.

There is quite a range of adjustable chairs, as each of us is different and an ergonomic chair means that the chair fits you and not the reverse! When choosing a suitable office chair, it will pay you to call on the advice of someone knowledgeable in ergonomics, to make an assessment of both your skeletal frame and the duties of your job. This will make sure that you choose the office chair that meets your needs.

Elementary, don’t you think?

Choosing an office chair is difficult, so lets start with a good all rounder. Enjoy Office Chairs are very popular as they are comfortable and excellent value for money. The best selling Enjoy Chair is from the same range of Mesh Office Chairs as the Ergohuman Office chair.
The Ergohuman is a tried and tested office chair with extra lumbar support helps to support the back thereby influencing better posture. Take a look at the Ergonomic Office Chairs for more information on the different choices

Ergohuman Office Chair with Leg Rest
Ergohuman Office Chair with Leg Rest
Mirus Mesh Office Chair Black Frame
Mirus Mesh Office Chair Black Frame

The Ergonomic Office

If you know anything about office furniture, you’ll know that we’re now in the world of ergonomics the aim is to adapt to an Ergonomic Office. In a nutshell, this means making the office environment fit you. It means looking at your personal working space, your job responsibilities and also your body frame measurements and weight, to get the ‘best for you’ as regards to working conditions.

Ergonomics
Ergonomic Office Chairs

‘Getting it right’ will cover space, light, noise and overall sitting comfort:-

Space. A good ergonomic layout will mean that your work system is organised in such a way that you don’t have to carry heavy weights over long distances, you don’t have to overly stretch and you’re not working in cramped conditions etc..

Light. Good daylight is important and, where this isn’t possible, good simulated daylight is the next best thing. Knowing what type of lighting to buy for your office space is essential. Also bear in mind that a lot of light comes from your computer screen and this is going directly towards your eyes, which isn’t a good thing, as good light should always come from over your shoulder. I would always advise getting a filter screen for your computer, to reduce that ‘sunlight’ effect which really is too bright.

Noise. We now often hear of noise pollution and, in a busy office, pollution is often the case. For example, how often have you had to speak with call centre staff and can’t hear what your contact is saying as clearly as you can hear her colleagues? In that modern-day office, false walls in the form of screens are often used, to give that feeling of private space and to somewhat reduce the effect of the overall noise.

Overall Sitting Comfort. When it comes to seating, always look at ergonomic office chairs, as these are designed to offer many adjustments, making the chair of your choice match your overall needs. The Ergohuman range has several models, like the Ergohuman, the Ergohuman Plus, the Mirus, Enjoy and the Nefil. Spend some time finding out what these chairs offer. The features include seat tilt and glide, seat height, adjustable armrests, a lumbar support region and many other useful features and there are also additional extras, such as a headrest, a leg rest and a note table. Knowing what your job responsibilities ask of you will help you decide which of these additional extras are necessary.

Overall. An ergonomically-friendly environment makes work a pleasure and the day less stressful. It’s like any job, a bad workman always blames his tools, so getting the environment right for you means success all round.

It’s simply ergonomics.

Ergohuman Plus with Leg Rest
Ergohuman Plus with Leg Rest

Ergonomics

Ergonomics – very much a late twentieth century word. It means the study of the application of biology and engineering to the relationship between workers and their environment. It may be a word you have never used nor even heard. In lay terms, it means making the working environment fit the individual’s needs.

The last twenty years has seen an increase in health and safety awareness. This covers a multitude of issues, from infection control to fire awareness and its main purpose is to identify hazards and prevent accidents. Ergonomics is much the same thing, this time looking at the working environment and how we can prevent discomfort to the body e.g. back pain, repetitive strain injury (RSI) and eye strain. A basic example might be that a woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) has to do a lot of walking with her office job and by looking at the location of her computer workstation and the reasons that she needs to walk to other areas within the building, a plan can be formulated to cut down on distances travelled. This could be as simple as moving filing cabinets closer to her computer workstation, or finding her an office closer to the filing area. Ergonomics at work

Sometimes, in the name of work, we put our bodies through assault courses:-

*stretching for files on high shelves
*shuffling under the desk, to unplug the computer.
*putting the swivel chair through its paces, so as it reach this or that.
*working at the computer, even though the office chair isn’t a suitable height to comfortably use the keyboard.

Addressing these issues and making the working environment more user-friendly is ergonomics.

I remember a case of a young and fit gentleman who did shuffle under the desk to unplug his computer, at the end of his working day. The injury that this seemingly simple task caused led to a lengthy period of sickness and the need for a workstation assessment. The assessment identified the need for an ergonomic office chair that was going to give his neck and back the support that they needed, to prevent any exacerbation to his unfortunate condition.

So, ergonomics is two-fold. For the employer, such considerations create a safer working environment and risk assessments may identify needs within particular work areas. For the employee, it creates a more user-friendly environment, making work more comfortable and injury less of a likelihood. With benefits all round, paying attention to ergonomics definitely makes sense.

Mirus Ergonomic Office Chairs
Mirus Ergonomic Office Chairs

Ergohuman Chair Range

I already have my office chair but, if you need to buy one for yourself, I would suggest that you look no further than the Ergohuman office chair range. I have the Nefil office chair, though my colleague swears by the Enjoy office chair model but it really depends on what you’re looking for. One of the points that should affect your decision is your body frame but the nature of your job is also important. What I mean by that second consideration is do you sit down all day long or are you always up and down, does the job involve a lot of twisting (maybe your filing cabinets are right next to you and you don’t have to actually leave your seat to put something away).

For me, the seat tilt and slide and the backrest tilt mean that I can get my back and my bottom to fit comfortably into the Nefil chair, so that I am actually using its magnificent features to support the whole of my back. That means that I am making use of the lumbar support that the chair back gives. My friend likes the Enjoy chair, as it has autoflex zones in the lumbar support feature and this does it for her.

All of the Ergohuman chair models are to die for, as a lot of thinking has gone into their design. They all have many features and adjustments and I suppose the most noticeable difference is the look of the chair. I just love the simple look and the Nefil’s chair back from the rear reminds me of the old-style beer bottle opener. The chair looks good and makes me feel good. With its ribbed look back support, the Enjoy appeals to my friend and that’s fine.

One thing we both agreed on was the choice of fabric. Though the leather is very nice, we much preferred the airiness of the mesh. It’s easy to wipe clean and is a chair that breathes, if you know what I mean.

I’m really pleased that I was guided towards the Ergohuman range of chairs. It was sound advice and that’s why I am passing the same information on. There’s an interesting range of colours to choose from as well. And as regards to that sound advice … don’t forget to pass it on.

Ergohuman Office Chair
Ergohuman Office Chair

Enjoy Office Chair
Enjoy Office Chair

Ergohuman Plus

It can get very difficult to differentiate between some ergonomic office chairs, particularly when the names are very similar but, suffice to say, the Ergohuman Plus is the top of the range in the Ergohuman stakes, with plenty to offer the health-conscious office worker. The Ergohuman Plus is the top of the range mesh office chair.

This model is ninety eight percent recyclable and has more aluminium detailing than its close relatives, so it’s a smart looking chair with a strong frame. Its long list of adjustment possibilities mean the Ergohuman Plus can be altered to suit everyone.

One lever controls the three main adjustment areas of seat height, seat depth and back tilt, all of which get the chair to fit the smallest or tallest person. The height adjustment can cater for five foot to six foot four inches and the seat depth is particularly important, as correct adjustment keeps your back in contact with the back rest, while reducing any pressure that could fall on the knees, if the seat pad didn’t match you leg length. Like in a car, the back tilt gets the body in a good position for the arms to reach their place of work comfortably.

Arm rests are really important, as they support your arms and therefore also reduce any pull on your shoulders, guiding your hands to the desk or computer keyboard. The arm rests on the Ergohuman Plus offer multidimensional adjustments, meaning up, down, backwards, forwards and also in and out. Making sure that your elbows are placed comfortably near your body rather than splayed at a wide angle makes a huge difference to overall support.

The Plus has a seat tilt option which helps take pressure off the spine but only when adjusted correctly for its user. It really does pay to get all adjustments set to meet your needs, or the ‘ergonomic’ quality of the chair will be there in name only.

Lumbar support is essential and this ergonomic office chair boasts autoflex zones for added comfort and that important support. Adjusting the seat back will get this important feature to work for you and make long days seems less stressful.

With a matching headrest, this office must-have oozes comfort and, in a choice of either mesh or leather upholstery, you really do feel loved.

Ergohuman Plus Office Chair
Ergohuman Plus Office Chair

What Makes a Perfect Ergonomic Office?

Imagine you’re sitting in a perfect office: somewhere where you have to go but you’re also pleased to be. Everyone’s idea will be slightly different, though all will contain the essentials.

A perfect ergonomic office will be light and inviting. If there’s a window close to you, the natural light will make the office feel fresh and alive. If this isn’t happening for you, then you need to invite light into the room. A standard lamp may add a touch of homeliness and you can also use angle poise lamps, to direct the light to your office desk, making reading easy, particularly on those long winter days when everything seems to be overcast. Don’t forget that view from the window. Maybe it’s beautiful, maybe it’s not, so why not hang a scenic picture on the wall in front of you, or frame a smaller version for your desk: it might not be a desk toy but it will still make you feel good.

If your office is small, make it feel bigger. This can be done by using glass office furniture, as the light passing through that beautiful crystal gives an illusion of space. However, if you’re one of those people that hoards a lot of stuff under your office desk, you’re now going to have to tidy up your act. This in itself is a good thing, as we are always being told to de-clutter our lives and getting rid of unnecessary paper will again create space. It will also make work more pleasurable, as you have now become more organised.

So, the place looks bigger, brighter and inviting. The next step is to get that office chair right. Right for you, as you’re the one who is going to be sitting in it. It’s not only the seat pad that is important, although sitting on something soft is better than something that has no flexibility. You want that best office chair to be supporting you in all the right places. The lower back of the chair matches your lower back: it’s giving support and taking some of the weight of your upper body off your own frame. Its adjustable arm rests, its swivel action and its seat pad height mechanism make sitting a more natural action, rather than an expected pose. While all of this happening, your body is relaxing and encouraging your thoughts to be in the same frame of mind. So what type of office chair? Well considering all of the above it has to be an ergonomic office chair.

For many of us, even the journey to work can be stressful, so the last thing you want is to carry this edginess through the day. Getting that ergonomic office right for you will reflect itself in the quality of your work and the quantity and that can’t be a bad thing, can it?