Chair Ergonomics 101

Ergonomics is the study of an individual’s efficiency in his or her working environment. Today, many furniture manufacturers and designers understand that a one-size-fits-all approach to creating office furniture doesn’t work, especially when it comes to chairs. Because of that, many office chairs include ergonomic adjustments that enable them to support a wide range of body types. What ergonomic adjustments should you look for in your next ergonomic office chair?

guide to ergonomic adjustments

Minimum Suggested Ergonomic Adjustments

No matter what, office chairs tend to have a few standard features or variations on options. They generally go up and down to adjust to the user's height. Many office chairs also include a tilt mechanism, either knee tilt or synchro. From there, the sky's the limit. Office furniture innovation will continue to bring new advances, but for now, you can mix and match common features to your liking.

Additional Ergonomic Adjustments

The following adjustments are special features that help keep your body in an ideal position while you work. Although they are not necessary for everyone, these adjustments can alleviate specific problems and help with the overall support of your body.

Seat

Adjustable Seat Height: With adjustable seat height, shorter users can avoid the discomfort of their feet dangling above the ground, and taller users do not have to worry about their knees being raised in an uncomfortably high position. This adjustment should allow each individual to comfortably rest their feet on the ground. In addition to an adjustable seat height, we recommend shorter users sit in a petite office chair and larger users sit in a big and tall office chair to achieve maximum comfort.

Adjustable Seat Depth: Taller individuals need more space in a seat, and the seat depth adjustment will address this issue. Without enough room or support, a tall individual will feel undesirable pressure under his or her thighs. In contrast, shorter individuals require a smaller seat. If the seat is too large, a shorter user will feel pressure behind the knees. Typically, most chairs include 2” to 3” of seat depth adjustability to accommodate most users.

Back

Adjustable Arm Height: Individuals will want to keep their arms parallel to the ground and in a position where they are resting comfortably and naturally on the armrests. You want to avoid shrugging or straining your shoulders, a problem seen when armrests are too high, and you will want to ensure that your elbows are not stressed, which is a result felt when the armrests are too low.

Adjustable Back Height: The back of your chair plays a very important role in supporting your spine throughout the work day. As the shape of the spine varies from one person to the next, ergonomic seating should include an adjustment for back height. This adjustment slides up and down—it should be adjusted so the chair’s lumbar curve fits into and supports the user’s lower back curve.

Adjustable Lumbar Support: Typically, you can find this adjustment via a ratcheting column on the back of the chair. This column can be moved up or down to suit the individual user.

Adjustable Headrest: A headrest gives the user a place to rest their head, thereby helping reduce the weight the neck must support during recline. If you are experiencing constant neck pain, a chair with a headrest may be a great choice for you.

Arms

Flip Arms: This adjustment makes it possible to flip the arms up and down or to the side. This feature allows for easier movement, whether the individual wants to move out of the chair easily or wants to get close to their working surface without the chair arms getting in the way.

Adjustable Arm Width: Arms should rest comfortably at a natural position, not too close or far away from the body. This adjustment ensures that individuals won’t feel discomfort from their sides pushing up against the arms of the chair. Likewise, this adjustment also ensures that people won’t need to strain to get their arms to reach the armrests.

Adjustable Arm Depth: Adjustable arm depth affects the forward and backward motion of the arms. Remember, the arms of your chair should support your elbows, not your wrists. Chairs with this feature are also less likely to bump into the user’s desk throughout the day, which is a plus!

Adjustable Arm Pivot: A pivoting action addresses the same issues that adjustable arm depth and width aim to solve. Pivoting arms can accommodate specific tasks, making it so that the arms of your chair won’t get in your way if you are working on a task or project that requires more space.

Adjustable Arm Pad Depth: Some users prefer to have their arms resting in plush comfort, while others require less padding. This adjustment lets you choose an option so your arms rest exactly as you desire.

Adjustable Arm Pad Pivot: Like adjustable arm pad depth, an adjustable arm pad pivot adds an extra level of cushioned comfort so that you can work on your projects with ease.

Adjustable Foot Ring Height: A foot ring offers a place for users to rest their feet when sitting on a stool. It is an especially important feature when the stool height cannot be adjusted or when the user is sitting at counter height, as the user will be unable to rest his or her feet on the ground. With an adjustable foot ring, all individuals may be accommodated with a place to rest their feet.

Tilt

Synchro Tilt: Synchro tilt (short for synchronous) mechanisms allow the back and seat of a chair to move together in a 2:1 ratio. This is helpful when it comes to maintaining the proper posture while reclining. All users should have their feet placed flat on the ground when seated. With the synchro-tilt feature, a user can recline while still comfortably resting their feet flat on the ground.

Knee Tilt: A knee tilt mechanism allows the user’s feet to remain flat on the ground. To achieve this action, the pivot point for a knee tilt mechanism is at the front of the chair rather than in the middle of the seat like most office chairs. Because the user can keep his or her feet flat on the ground, no pressure is exerted on the back of the legs in the process, thus reducing fatigue. To achieve this, the pivot point for tilting is located at the front of the chair.

Single-Point Tilt: This feature is typically found on inexpensive office chairs and offers an unmodified tilt, maintaining the angle between the back and the seat. Adjustable tension can make this a more comfortable experience and typically aids in fidgeting as opposed to comfort and ergonomics. When possible, choose a chair with a synchro or knee-tilt mechanism instead.

Tilt Lock: A tilt lock control makes it possible for any individual to lock his or her chair in place during recline so that they won’t need to apply any pressure to the chair to get it to stay in the desired position.

Adjustable Tilt Tension: This adjustment gives the user the power to determine how much force is needed to tilt or recline in the chair. Some users prefer little to no force, making it extremely easy to recline, while others prefer the opposite. This is a necessity in single-point tilt chairs.

Ergonomics

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Hot Seats: Our Top 5 Office Chairs

When it comes to office chairs, there's always a perfect fit for every sit. National Business Furniture's comprehensive selection of office chairs ensures that you can find the right combination of comfort, style, and affordability to make a long day at your desk worthwhile.

The Complete Guide to Office Chair Cleaning

You use the chairs in your office every day, and they’re bound to get dirty even if you’re careful. To ensure your chairs look their best year after year, take these tips for the regular cleaning and maintenance of all upholstery types.

General Chair Care

Always test cleaning techniques on an inconspicuous spot first. Try the bottom of the chair, the back, or anywhere else that doesn’t show. Make sure you test an unseen spot before you try a new cleaning method on the whole chair. Even if you only use a mild soap, you never know how certain substances might react with your specific chair. Testing a hidden spot first will ensure you don’t damage an important part of the furniture.

Remove stains immediately. The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove. Do yourself a favor and clean it up now.

Beware of breathing in harsh chemicals. If using a cleaning agent that has a strong scent or chemical smell, only clean in a well-ventilated area.

Always check your chair for a tag with cleaning instructions. Most office chairs have a tag under the seat that outlines care tips. Look there first before beginning any cleaning.

How to Clean Office Chairs

Fabric upholstery can usually be cleaned using water-based cleaning agents or water-free solvents. First, vacuum any crumbs that may be hiding in cracks and crevasses. If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner handy, use a can of compressed air. Next, mix a few drops of mild soap in a bucket of water. Using a soft, lint-free cloth, wipe this on your test spot first. If it looks good, wipe down the entire chair, then use a second lint-free cloth to wipe it dry.

Genuine leather upholstery can be cleaned in 1 of 3 ways: store-bought leather cleaner, vinegar and linseed oil, or rubbing alcohol and water. For a more detailed description of how to clean and maintain a leather office chair, read our guide to cleaning and maintaining leather furniture here.

Faux leather and vinyl are easier to care for than real leather. In many cases, you can clean faux leather and vinyl using water-based cleaners in the same manner as fabric upholstery, and many vinyl options can even be cleaned with bleach solutions. Double-check the tag on your chair for any special instructions to avoid damage. Read our guide to leather upholstery to learn more.

Mesh chairs should be vacuumed regularly, as crumbs tend to get caught in the little spaces. Any remaining dirt or stains can be removed using a damp cloth, but do not drag the cloth across the mesh, as this can cause the material to fray. Instead, dab any problem areas until clean.

Plastic chairs can be cleaned with soap and water, but avoid using bleach, which can damage the material. For stains, dampen a soft cloth with white distilled vinegar and wipe. Baking soda on a wet sponge can also create a mild abrasive that eats away stains without damaging your plastic.

Wood chairs need cleaning too! Regularly wipe down your wood chairs with a dry lint-free cloth. For deeper cleaning, choose a wood polish and apply it to the chair in small amounts using a cloth. Like with your upholstery, you’ll want to test your polish on an inconspicuous area before going over the entire piece of furniture.

Metal chairs are relatively maintenance-free and can be wiped down with a damp cloth with or without mild soap.

The Complete Guide to Office Chairs

Looking for a new office chair for your desk? With so many options, it can be tough to know what to choose. Use our comprehensive guide to office chairs to help you narrow down your options and decide which chair is best for your needs.

Type

Computer chairs are the most basic of the bunch. Computer chair is an overarching term encompassing several types of desk chair, including ergonomic chairs and armless chairs. Any chair you use at a computer desk could, in theory, be considered a computer chair. Computer chairs or desk chairs on NBF.com typically feature very few ergonomic adjustments.

Executive chairs are upgraded versions of computer chairs that usually feature a high back and stately design. The most distinguishing feature of an executive chair is the presence of a headrest, whether built-in or detachable. The higher back and headrest of an executive chair give it a more impressive look befitting for corner executive offices, hence the name executive chair or manager’s chair.

Ergonomic chairs feature multiple ergonomic adjustments that enable users to easily find their ideal seated position by adjusting the chair accordingly. Ergonomic chairs are commonly recommended for task seating as they can conform to a wide range of body types and user needs.

Drafting stools are ideal for standing height workstations as they allow the user to easily switch between sitting and standing. Most drafting stools come with very few ergonomic adjustments, but all are height adjustable and have a much greater height range than computer chairs.

24-hour task chairs are, as the name implies, designed to be used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These heavy-duty seating options are reinforced to withstand constant use, making them ideal for applications such as military bases and 24-hour call centers.

Kneel chairs are ergonomic seating solutions designed to put the user upright by encouraging a kneel-like posture. Kneel chairs were especially prominent before active seating options gained popularity, but they’re quickly being replaced by ball chairs and other active sitting solutions.

Active seating is taking the world by storm. With new research confirming that a sedentary office lifestyle leads to increased health issues, standing desks are becoming more popular. However, you can take steps to make even the process of sitting healthier by incorporating active sitting. Active seating includes the ever-popular ball chair and newer, more unique solutions such as leaning chairs. These chairs and stools force the user to balance while seated, providing comfort while allowing the user to burn energy and stay active by fidgeting.

Upholstery

Fabric upholstery is a woven material that helps give furniture a homelike look and feel. Fabric is available in many colors and patterns and is a popular choice for most office settings.

Genuine leather upholstery is either full grain or top grain genuine cowhide. Full grain leather is kept as close to its natural state as possible to show its grains and natural imperfections. Top grain leather is the most common type of genuine leather upholstery—it’s thinner and more flexible than full grain leather. Top grain leather is also sanded to remove imperfections, giving it a more polished look.

Faux leather and vinyl upholstery are manufactured alternatives to genuine leather. Faux leather and vinyl are made of either polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), both of which give the look of leather at a lower cost.

Mesh is a textile that provides more breathability than any other type of upholstery. Mesh is durable but can be trickier to clean due to its porous design.

Seat Type

Pocketed coil systems are made up of a number of individual pocketed coils that help evenly distribute weight for user comfort. The coils are usually outfitted with a layer of foam on the top and bottom, with the top layer being less dense to create a cushioned feel.

Fabricated foam is one of the most common materials found in upholstered office chairs. This type of foam varies in density. The denser the foam, the more firm the feel.

Molded foam is made by pouring a liquid foam material into a mold. This type of foam offers more consistent support and holds its shape for longer than fabricated foam. This allows for more contour and a more comfortable feel.

Memory foam has a unique chemical makeup that allows the seat to adjust to your body temperature. Therefore, the seats retain more heat than others, allowing them to mold their shape as the user moves. Memory foam seats are known for providing a superior level of customized support. In addition, this material is hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites.

TEMPUR® material is the ultimate in office chair comfort. Found in Tempur-Pedic® office chairs, this type of seat material goes beyond basic memory foam to conform to your specific body type, offering the same level of support one expects from a mattress.

Casters

Soft floor casters are designed to roll effortlessly on soft flooring like carpet. This type of caster comes standard on most office chairs.

Hard floor casters are designed for hard flooring like tile and wood. Hard floor casters are available for most chair models, but they need to be special-ordered in most cases. Consult a furniture expert if you’d like to purchase hard floor casters for your chair.

Adjustable floor glides are sometimes used on office chairs in place of casters. Although these are not common, they are good for users who prefer not to roll in their office chairs.

Size

Standard-size office chairs are comfortable for the majority of people. A standard-size office chair is designed to support users measuring 5’ 5” to 6’ 0” tall and weighing 250 pounds or less.

Petite office chairs are designed for smaller users who feel that standard-size office chairs are too large. Petite chairs can still support up to 250 pounds, but they feature a shorter cylinder and shallower seat pan ideal for users who stand at 5’ 4” or shorter.

Big and tall chairs are designed for larger users. Not only does this type of chair offer a larger seat and back, but it can also support more weight than standard chairs. Big and tall chairs can support at least 300 pounds, but many support 500, 700, or more. Be sure to check the description of your big and tall chair to ensure it supports the correct weight.

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