If you work in an office or from your laptop at home, chances are that you spend a good amount of your day sitting down. That’s why it is extremely important that you have a good chair that provides optimal comfort and ergonomic support to help make those long workdays more comfortable.
Office chairs have come a long way and their current form is the task chair, designed using the latest ergonomic technology to provide the end user with ongoing comfort and mobility. Task chairs are ergonomic, functional and specifically made to be adjustable and mobile to help promote good posture and keep the user comfortable during work tasks.
Benefits of task chairs
There are plenty of benefits to using a task chair over other types of chairs when you’re working at a desk.
Task chairs are ergonomically designed to conform to the user’s body shape and provide the correct support to help reduce strain and fatigue from long hours in front of a screen, reading or writing.
They’re designed to support your back and shoulders, as well as your neck, hips, and knees. They also promote an upright posture and can be easily adjusted to properly fit your body. The addition of quality cushioning provides added comfort while seated for long periods.
Task chairs also allow free movement; they’re designed with wheels so you can move around easily without having to get up out of your seat every time.
Because task chairs are so comfortable, you can use them for hours without experiencing the same aches and pains you might get from ordinary chairs.
Task chair features
Task chairs are uniquely designed to accommodate all body types through multiple adjustment options. When choosing a task chair, pay attention to the following features:
- The key feature of a task chair is that it’s adjustable. A task chair should have adjustable features that allow you to customise the seat height, depth and width, armrest height and length, seat tilt tension, back tension, lumbar height, seat angle and more to suit your specific needs.
- Tilt tension is used to adjust the amount of force needed to recline when working at your desk. It is adjustable to accommodate different body sizes. It is usually more comfortable and better for your back to set it to a slight recline that allows more natural movement throughout the day rather than a completely solid straight back.
- Task chairs should promote free-flowing movement by being easy to move around on. A 360-degree seat swivel and a 5-point base with wheels, allow the user to move and reach things that are nearby without straining. Make sure the wheels are suitable for the flooring in your workspace. Hard castors usually come as standard but are generally only suitable for soft floors such as carpet. If you have a hard floor you will need to consider investing in soft castors to prolong the life of your chair and protect your floor.
- Choose between a padded backrest for extra comfort or a mesh back that offers better airflow to help regulate your body temperature year round whilst still providing support with its taut fit on the frame.
- Make sure the seat has ample cushioning to help diminish any joint or lower back pain that can be caused by sitting on hard surfaces.
- Lumbar support is essential to support the ‘S’ curvature of your lower back and spine, it is adjustable to fit the correct height of the user. A standard straight-back chair does not have the correct support for sitting for long periods.
- Neck and head supports are valuable additions if you tend to find yourself leaning back in your chair a lot to talk on the phone for example.
The right task chair can significantly improve your productivity and well-being at work by reducing or eliminating back pain. The human body is not built to spend hours sitting in a static position, so find a chair that allows you to move or reposition yourself occasionally to improve physical stresses on your body.
It can be easy to be swayed by design over function but just remember if you spend the same amount of time in your office chair as your bed, comfort and support are very important. Choose a chair that has all the features that are most important to you. Lots of manufacturers offer several colour options to fit your home office décor.
We offer a wide variety of office and task chairs for your home office. Order online and we’ll deliver direct to your door – Home Office Chairs
