Orthopedic chairs - Dining chair

The dining chair is probably the chair design that lends itself most easily to the characteristics and design features that are valued in an orthopedic chair.

It has a number of important features that, starting from the foot of the legs up, include the following –

A seat that is typically at, or close to, the ideal level. i.e. when seated the person using the chair will have an angle of approximately 90 degrees (or slightly more) between the upper and lower legs, i.e. the angle at the knee joint. The feet will also be flat on the floor.

The depth of the seat (i.e. the measurement from the front to the back) is normally such that no pressure is applied to the underside of the knees or the first few inches of the thighs extending from it.

The backrest will normally be quite high and comparatively vertical ensuring that it supports the back even when the person seated on it is eating.

The overall design of the chair makes it easy to sit down on to and to stand up from.

Naturally not every dinning chair achieves the criteria described above and the height, leg length etc, of the person sat on the chair will determine the extent to which good comfort and support are achieved.

What to look for in a good dinning chair

Obviously the features described above are a good starting point and trying out a chair is always one way to immediately discover whether or not it is comfortable.

Unlike task chairs and ergonomic chairs, dinning chairs do not have any adjustments or features that can be customised, so what you see is what you get. If a chair feels uncomfortable or you just do not like it, reject it.

Think about your dining habits when you by a set of dining chairs. Some people like to eat their meals quickly and move out of the dining area and into easy chairs, sofas, etc. Other people spend a lot of time sat at a table. These people like to draw out a meal and they may enjoy entertaining. If this is the case you want a dining chair design that is comfortable and supportive over a longer period, possibly several hours at a single sitting. When this is the situation, function rather than appearance and aesthetics should be the primary decision maker. If you buy uncomfortable and poorly supporting chairs your dining experience will always be muted by the discomfort of the chairs and the desire to finish the food quickly and escape to a better chair.

Attractive design and function do not need to be at odds when selecting good dining chairs. Always look for chairs will high backs, good seating height and plenty of padding.

Some dining chairs omit support at the base of the back. This is something to look out for and to avoid. If you remain seated for a prolonged period of time, this is more often than not the area of the back that may ache or become stiff or tight. Always look for chairs that support the full length of the back and make sure that you do not need to excessively lean forward and away from the backrest in order to eat. If this is the case the backrest will not be doing its job.

Finally, take a look at these pages High seat chairs and High chair which look at high backed and high seated chairs. The principles behind the designs of these chairs and a good dining chair should be the same.