When choosing a chair for your home or work office, one of the most common questions we receive is ‘Should I buy a mid-back or a high-back office chair?’ Although it may not seem like this choice matters, it is actually incredibly important for your sitting position and even your environment.
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First and foremost, you need to consider your size and shape. One size does not fit all! The ergonomic chair features your chair has will influence your decision.
What you should consider
There are several factors that you should consider when choosing a mid-back or high-back office chair, which we will detail below, followed by a direct comparison of the two types of chairs.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Take the time to measure your back height. If you’re short, you’re more likely to require a smaller backrest than those who are taller. To take the measurement, do so when seated from your bottom to your shoulder. This measurement will indicate the size of the backrest you need.
One of the best ergonomic chairs features you can have if you can’t measure your back is an adjustable backrest.
A backrest with height adjustment can allow you to position the lumbar support of the chair into your lumbar area for full, permanent contact and support. A backrest should support your whole back and shoulders.
Once you have determined the height of the back of the ergonomic chair you need, you should consider width. If you’re larger in build, you will need a wider backrest for complete support. Equally, if you’re slim, a slimmer backrest will give you better support.
The backrest should provide complete back support as you lean through the thoracic (mid and upper back) and lumbar (lower back) areas of the spine. Your cervical spine (neck region) and your head can also be supported by the backrest.
When you’re seated incorrectly, tremendous pressure is placed on your neck, especially when it’s tilted forward. A high-back office chair will automatically guide and support your neck and head while you’re seated, which allows you to work for longer periods without neck pain.
Not all high-back ergonomic chairs include a headrest, so you could purchase one separately! If you’re particularly short or tall and have upper back, shoulder or neck pain, you should consider a neck or headrest. Ideally with adjustability in height and angle to allow you to position it just where you need it to alleviate tension.
A high-back office chair will encourage good posture, sitting upright, opening your shoulders, back and chest, and discouraging slouching.
A high-back ergonomic chair is crucial to provide good lumbar and thoracic spinal support and will follow the natural curvature of your spine. Lengthy periods of sitting can cause significant spinal issues over time, accelerating the wear and tear of your spinal discs and increasing the risk of daily back and neck pain.
Independent Tilt
High-back ergonomic chairs should have a backrest that is separate from the seat to allow independent tilt movement. Additionally, this separation will allow adjustability in the height and angle of the backrest.
Lumbar Support
For many who work in an office building, sitting in an office chair without adequate back support can generate high levels of stress on the lower back. Primarily because, in the seated position, the lumbosacral discs are put under some three times more pressure than when you’re standing.
Sitting without back support usually leads to poor posture, which stresses the soft tissues and joints in the spine. For many, sitting in an ordinary office chair can often exacerbate or even cause lower back pain.
In today’s society, we undergo lengthy periods of unsupported sitting. Long work days, commuting on worn-down seats on public transport, watching TV, or at the computer, can all encourage poor postural habits.
When sitting in an ordinary office chair, shifting one’s weight forward increases stress on soft tissue, joints and discs, which, in turn, can create muscle tension and pain in the lower back and legs. The lower portion of the spine, just above the buttocks, naturally curves inward toward the bells (the lordotic curve). Lumbar back support helps to promote good posture by simply filling in the gap between the lumbar spine and the seat, supporting the natural inward curve of the lower back.
Without lumbar support, it’s more difficult to maintain the correct posture, and the lumbar spine and large muscles in the lower back have to work harder to support the proper curvature and alignment.
Over time, as the body tires, the muscles holding your spine in position become weak, and the head and upper back tend to lean forward to compensate for the weakening of the lumbar muscles. Your body’s natural tendency is to slouch forward, so having a high-back ergonomic chair to help prevent this will be beneficial to your body.
With good lumbar support from a high-back office chair, your muscles surrounding the spine will be alleviated from the literal pressure of maintaining natural spine curvature
Are You Sitting Correctly?
Your high-back office chair should be positioned correctly to achieve the right support for your back and neck.
One of the best ergonomic chair features is adjustable elbow supports, which help you to maintain proper posture by comfortably resting your arms and avoiding strain on the neck.
To achieve correct seat height, you should ensure both of your feet can lie flat on the floor, and that your knees are slightly lower than the level of your hips (with a footrest to elevate the feet while sitting in the office chair). By sitting with your knees below the level of your hips, you can reduce the rotation of your pelvis. This will inherently reduce the pressure in your lumbar discs by opening the pelvis and realigning your lumbar area.
Lastly, your monitor height should be straight ahead, at eye level, to avoid strain on your neck.
The differences between a mid-back and high-back ergonomic chair
High-back office chairs, compared to mid-back chairs, are far more ergonomically effective, offering excellent support to your neck, back, shoulders, and head. Furthermore, the tall backrest will naturally encourage an upright posture.
Although mid-back chairs are supportive, a high-back office chair will cover more areas of your body, thus creating a more pleasant sitting experience.
The chair is an essential part of any often-overlooked office setup. Considering the many hours you spend sitting, taking this for granted is a mistake.
A wrong chair can expose you to lots of health problems. You may complain of lower back pain, neck pain, difficulty breathing, etc. To make a long story short, the issues will keep piling up until you get one of the best ergonomic chairs.
With a highly functional design, the surprising impact of office chairs on your productivity will be impressive. You will be happier, healthier, and more productive.
Many individuals remain unaware of the potential harm caused by prolonged sitting on unsuitable chairs, often spending hours and months in office chairs without realising the avoidable health consequences.
Sitting for extended periods on inappropriate chairs can contribute to a sedentary lifestyle, which has been associated with a range of health issues. Insufficient physical activity and immobility can lead to weight gain, obesity, and metabolic disorders. Furthermore, prolonged sitting can adversely affect cardiovascular health, elevating the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions. Corporate Wellness Magazine highlights the concept of sitting disease, which refers to the negative health effects associated with prolonged sitting, particularly in office environments. The comparison of excessive sitting to smoking emphasises the potential harm caused by prolonged sedentary behavior, even if you have an ergonomic chair.
Among the primary concerns related to using the wrong chair is the negative impact on posture. Chairs lacking proper ergonomic support can result in unnatural spinal alignment, leading to neck, shoulder, and back strain. Over time, this can result in chronic pain, musculoskeletal disorders, and even spinal misalignments. Moreover, incorrect posture can hinder circulation, impeding blood flow to vital organs and extremities.
Using an ergonomic chair promotes healthy movement and natural alignment, reduces discomfort, and minimises strain on the body. This enhanced comfort and support lead to increased productivity and focus, ultimately improving overall work performance.
Let’s discover how impactful a quality chair can be to your productivity!
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when you invest in a good-quality office chair. Here is how it will positively impact your health and productivity at work:
Having an office chair you find comfortable sitting in for long periods would be best. Comfort helps unleash productivity because you will be more focused on the job than complaining about a crippling backache, neck pain, or stiff muscles. Also, you are less likely to complain about fatigue or get easily irritated.
Many offices use ergonomic chairs for their employees to maintain their posture and improve their productivity. The ergonomic chair market is projected to attain a valuation of approximately $21.2 billion by the year (approx. 11.1 billion GBP), primarily propelled by the trends of office remodeling and noteworthy technological innovations. This insightful conclusion originates from a comprehensive Transparency Market Research (TMR) study. A good office chair can support your body in several different positions. It helps you maintain good posture when sitting upright at the keyboard. It also makes it easy for you to lean back and stretch.
The weight of your head is always a problem when seated for long hours. It is the root cause of slouched shoulders. A quality ergonomic chair has reliable lumbar and neck support that helps you maintain a natural spine. This way, you become more aware of your posture and can avoid slouching.
Things like lower back pain, neck pain, and poor concentration will not be a constant concern when you are snowed under.
The human body has evolved over thousands of years to move from place to place, not to sit in a stationary position all day.
Every posture you make has its strains. However, movement shifts and distributes the strains throughout your body. Thereby making each strain less strenuous. That’s possible with a good quality office chair that promotes active sitting.
A good office chair allows one to move around and stay in one place. You can swivel on your seat and flex and extend your legs comfortably. This can help improve circulation, prevent stiffness, and improve functionality.
Investing in a high-quality office chair is expensive for most people. But it will prove to be highly beneficial in the long run. The possibility of you suffering workplace injuries will reduce, and you will not have to worry about regular medical costs.
When employers hire new workers, they should ensure they have the best possible ergonomic chairs for them to use. The more ergonomic the chairs are, the less the chance of injury occurring, which could lead to poor morale and reduced productivity.
Ergonomic chairs are essential to keep up the alertness levels of the employees and enable them to maintain the correct body posture. Employees can adjust their seat height, tilt, and swivel mobility to possess an excellent bodily posture that keeps them alert at work.
A quality office chair with ergonomic features supports the back, neck, knees, and wrists. This helps prevent soreness and thus improves employee productivity, experience, and morale. Employees who are satisfied with their workstations see themselves as assets of the company who are valued. They express their appreciation by doing better in their jobs.
Employee engagement is one of the many challenges companies face today, costing different industries billions of lost productivity annually.
Ergonomic experts understand this pickle. They have been designing and manufacturing product solutions to develop inspiring office spaces. To attract and retain talent, support their work, and foster innovation and engagement. A few things in the office environment evoke a more robust attachment for employees than an ergonomic office chair.
Comfortable seating over long periods enables concentration and reduces distractions. An ergonomically designed office chair cradles the body for maximum comfort and support. It allows muscles to flex and stretch easily, improves musculoskeletal comfort, encourages circulation, boosts concentration, enhances vitality and energy, and encourages regular movements.
In the long run, a high-performing ergonomic chair encourages employees to expend their dedication, commitment, passion, innovation, and emotional energy into their work. They give their discretionary effort while demonstrating what subjectively might be called happiness.
Ultimately, the value of employee focus pays excellent dividends for productivity and engagement.
You will have enough options as far as ergonomic office chairs are concerned out there. So, how do you pick a chair that can boost your productivity at work? Here are valuable tips to consider:
The most reliable office chair that can help improve your productivity is one that fits you properly.
Want more information on high back or mid back chair? Feel free to contact us.
The seat height should not be a struggle to adjust. You want to set your office chair low enough so that the floor correctly supports your feet. The ideal seat height also allows your arms to be high enough. This ensures your forearms are slightly downward toward the office table.
If the chair is too broad, you cannot fit between the armrests comfortably. As a result, you will not get proper support for your arms, neck, and head.
The seat pan depth is one of the most overlooked features. Sitting with your back against the office chair, your legs should hang over the edge. There should be a gap of about two to three inches between the back of your knees and the seat edge. A short seat pan will not provide proper support for your legs, whereas a deep seat pan will reduce circulation by pinching the back of your legs. So, settle for ergonomic office chairs with superior seat pan adjustments.
The armrest, especially if you sit for long periods. Leaning on the armrests helps take the weight off your back. But it may not be wise to settle for fixed armrests. Instead, go with adjustable armrests for added versatility.
Good-quality ergonomic office chairs usually have in-built lumbar support for your back. It’s one of the reasons you would sit on an office chair for many hours at a time without complaining too much. This innovative feature will help prevent lower back pain by properly aligning your spine.
Alternatively, you can opt for ergonomic chairs with a natural curve and a backrest. The natural curve is usually designed to conform to the shape of your spine. And may provide better comfort than the lumbar support offered by some conventional office chairs.
The foundation of ergonomic chairs is usually ergonomic adjustments. They are essential in improving comfort and productivity.
The most useful ones include the headrest, tilt lock, and multi-tilt lock adjustments. The chair you settle for should have a functional headrest that allows you to sit in a reclined setting and prevents neck pain. Furthermore, an available headrest takes the pressure off your head and neck.
Tilt lock adjustments will allow you to tilt back in the chair in different positions. Some chairs may have predefined positions for locking into place, while others may have multi-tilt lock positions.
Ergonomic features aside, build quality and durability are also important when looking for office chairs. You want a chair to help you improve your productivity for a long while. So, make sure it has a sturdy construction that is made up of high-quality materials. It should be able to withstand your weight without losing functionality or stability.
Now you know the surprising impact of office chairs on productivity. Ergonomic chairs don’t just provide comfort. They also help improve your posture, blood circulation, and brain function, among other benefits. All these benefits combined help boost your productivity.
Author: Darren Sherwood – Founder, expertEasy
Photo credit: Djordje Petrovic
The average office worker may be sitting in the wrong office chair for long periods of time and that same chair could be causing serious health problems. Adding an ergonomic office chair can drastically improve your posture, reduce back pain and ultimately improve productivity.
Your comfort in the office is enhanced when you use an ergonomic chair. You may have been wondering if there is any difference between this type of chair and the traditional chairs you have been using all these while.
Indeed, there are some reasons why employees prefer to use the ergonomic chair over the traditional chairs. The reasons are not far-fetched from the comfort and relaxed posture that the former has to offer.
In this article, we will show you some of the leading reasons why you should start using an ergonomic chair in your workplace. And if you are an employer, you will see the reasons why you should help your workers maintain the right posture and feel relaxed by using an ergonomic chair.
What is all the fuss about the ergonomic chair? What makes it special?
An ergonomic chair is the type of chair that is mostly used in the office. The reason is that since people spend more than 13 years of their life at work, it makes sense that they are comfortable when on the job.
The ergonomic chair is full of comfort and adjustable features that allow workers in an office to maintain the right posture while being productive on the job.
Now, we will show you the 10 major reasons why office workers must use ergonomic chairs if they don’t already.
If there is anything that you must be worried about after long hours of seating, it is your posture. When using normal chairs that lack basic ergonomics, you likely realized that you tend to lean forward because those chairs do not have the correct back height.
That is one anomaly that the ergonomic chair fixes. With the full-length design and the support for natural posture, you are sure that the chair will help enhance your posture.
The right office chair can greatly impact the lives of your employees. There have been several studies completed that discovered that choosing office furniture that is both ergonomically designed and comfortable can have a major impact on employee happiness, as well as their productivity.
Lower back pain and neck pain are some of the most common body pains that office workers have to battle with. That is usually because the design of the traditional chairs doesn’t allow them to sit for long hours while supporting the correct posture.
However, using the ergonomic chair promises better relaxation and reduced body pains because those important pain points are properly supported.
Your hips bear the brunt when it comes to holding down the weight in your body. That doesn’t appear to be common for office workers that decide to use an ergonomic chair instead.
The point is that the ergonomic chair helps to reduce hip pressure by providing suitable seat depth to support the hips.
The office furniture you choose needs to have the flexibility required to meet the needs of each individual in your office. Employees come in all different shapes and sizes and investing in furniture that can be adjusted to the specifications of your employees can help keep everyone in the office comfortable and focused on their work.
As an example, when looking for an office task chair, look for one that allows for key adjustments like seat height, seat depth, back recline and adjustable armrests. For more tips on How to Configure Your New Task Chair, check out our blog on the five essential tips.
In a study done back in on Circulation, researchers discovered that sitting for just an hour increasing the risk of depression, heart disease, poor blood circulation and back pain. We advise people to track how long they’re seated and to try to vary their position every 30 to 45 minutes.
The American Heart Association reports that any movement that raises our metabolic rate above the normal stationary resting rate (sitting) can have profound long-term health benefits and decrease our chance of those rather scary diseases and illnesses.
Many companies set aside a sum of money for the medical insurance of their workers. There tend to be fewer expenses to be made here is such companies can take the time to explore the advantages of ergonomic chairs and purchase the same for their workers.
Because employees are more comfortable when sitting on a chair with a headrest and spine support, they wouldn’t have much to bother about their health. Their health will instead be improved the more because they are relaxed and happy.
That way, companies will save a huge chunk of money from what they budgeted for the workers’ compensation costs and medical insurance.
There are no limitations to what the users stand to benefit from using an ergonomic chair, and with so many task chairs today coming in all shapes and sizes, there is a chair that fits your workspaces and body type.
Whereas more specialized chairs focus on supporting a specific part of the body, task chairs are adjustable and meant to accommodate multiple body types. As such, you often find them in shared workspaces.
Likewise, you shouldn’t have to do too much adjusting each time you sit down in one. A good task chair is naturally accommodating.
The fact that ergonomic chairs are ideal for office workers didn’t come about by mere speculations. Rather, the chairs have been tested in the lab and certified to guarantee the optimum safety of the users.
You are confident that you wouldn’t be making recurrent purchases because the ergonomic chair is designed for long-term use.
If for some reason it malfunctions, you can always use the warranty to get it fixed or get another at a discount.
There are tons of ergonomic chair brands out there. You need to have the details of what you are looking for so you don’t make a mistake.
Here are some of the ways you can determine a good ergonomic chair:
Ensure that the padding on the backrest and the seat of the ergonomic chair is made of breathable material and thick enough to allow you to sit for long hours.
The ergonomic chair you want to buy should be fully adjustable. Some of the areas you should consider here are:
Adjustable seat tilt
Adjustable lumbar support
Adjustable headrest
Adjustable height
We have always offered free ergonomic assessments of our customers’ offices. Since we can’t exactly do that at the moment we are doing the next best thing.
Book A Video Conference Assessment of your home office/kitchen table workstation/living room couch area (please don’t use a couch, they are terrible for your posture when using a computer)
At Office Interiors, we strongly believe that it is our responsibility to provide our customers with answers and information they need to make an informed decision. We would love to have the opportunity to earn your business and help you to love the way you work!
Our Office Furniture Buyer’s Guide answers all the questions our customers most frequently ask us, such as:
What are the costs of office furniture?
How do furniture warranties work?
Am I picking the right furniture?
And much, much more.
This article is a guest contribution by:
Jim Gates
Senior Editor
HealthyArea
For more Blue Leather Gaming Chairinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.