Orthopedic chairs - Ergonomic office or task chairs


Ergonomic office chairs (sometimes called task chairs) are designed to provide support and comfort in an environment where the user may be working at a work station, or performing a task in conjunction with another item of office furniture like a desk, keyboard, computer or phone.

The ergonomic element of the chairs design looks at matching the chairs "task" with the comfort and support of the human body. This is normally achieved by making numerous features of the chair adjustable and customizable to each user's unique body shape and posture.

The office environment is very different to that of the domestic home. When at work most people spend prolonged periods of time in a seated position and their awareness of their body is often distracted by concentration and the task at hand.

There are obvious orthopedic problems that can arise if this item of equipment is unsuited to its user, their environment, or their working practices. For this reason, a good ergonomic task chair is essential to productivity, health and seated comfort.


A good seated working environment

Critical to the "working environment" is the type of seating used and ergonomic (orthopedic) chair designs have been found to be the most influential of all work environment factors when it come to an employees health.

A good working environment requires the seated person to be ergonomically positioned so that repetitive strain injuries, cramps, aches and other discomforts do not arise as a result of poor posture. An orthopedic or ergonomic task chair can be critical in the avoidance of these ailments by helping the seated person attain the best and most comfortable working position.

The height, angle and position of a good ergonomic chair in relation to its seated user's desk, computer and other office equipment is critical. This requires a chair that can be customised to the user and their most common working activities. Typically this requires height and tilt adjustment and the ability to rotate freely.

Most companies now undertake "working environment" assessments. These assessments consider seating, desk and computer height, work area evaluation and daylight levels in order to optimise the working environment. This kind of assessment can also be requested by any employee if they are unhappy with the ergonomics of their immediate work space.


Appearance

In keeping with many other orthopedic products, ergonomic task chairs come in a range of designs, fabrics, colours and styles that are frequently indistinguishable from regular chairs. Some of these chairs also have radical designs with futuristic looking frames and elaborate and visible tilting mechanisms. These "hi-tec" designs can make these chairs very visually appealing.

With task chairs in particular, orthopedic considerations come as standard in this day and age and all but the cheapest of office chairs will have some orthopedic or ergonomic aspects to their designs and adjustments.


Features

Typical features of an orthopedic office chair can include, seat height adjustment, back rest height and angle adjustment, back rest lateral adjustment (adjusting the back rest towards or away from the seat), a swivel or turning action, the inclusion of an angled foot rest, selection of padding types, arm rest level adjustment etc.

For a more detailed information about ergonomic task chairs, please refer to the following pages


Unusual orthopedic chairs

In addition to regular looking chairs, there are some orthopedic office chairs with very novel designs.

These chairs are constructed to promote good posture and may require the user to adopt a kneeling position with the back seemingly unsupported.

These chairs are not to everyone's liking, but they do encourage a good seated posture and a natural use of the back and abdominal muscles t promote good posture.