How to Properly Adjust an Ergonomic Chair
Do you know what to look for in an ergonomic chair?
A good ergonomic chair should provide employees with the ability to adjust the height, lumbar support, seat depth and armrests of the chair. For an ergonomic chair to have a positive impact on an employee's ergonomic workplace, it is important that they understand how to adjust the ergonomic chair.
The Height of the Ergonomic Chair
The first element that we want you to consider is the height of the ergonomic chair. If you're wondering how to raise the height of an office chair, look no further. The height adjustment is a lever that can be found at the bottom of the chair. Employees should adjust the height of their chair to a position that allows them to rest their feet flat on the ground with their knees at a 90-degree angle when they are seated. This will help employees avoid lower back pain that transpires when the chair is too low. It also helps them avoid inflammation on the inner side of the elbow, which occurs when the chair is too high.
The Lumbar Support of the Ergonomic Chair
Next, let's have a look at the lumbar support of the chair. Do you know how to adjust the lumbar support of your office chair? The lumbar support adjustment is either built in with the height lever or has an independent adjustment. The lumbar support should be adjusted to fit the natural curve in the spine. By properly adjusting the lumbar support of the chair your employees will be able to avoid the back pain that arises when the lumbar support is either too high or too low.
The Seat Depth of the Ergonomic Chair
Another key feature of the ergonomic chair to keep in mind is the seat depth of the chair - the part you sit on. The adjustment lever is normally under the front of the chair. When the seat depth of the chair is not adjusted properly to the employee, they may begin to feel unwanted pressure on their back and knees from sitting too far forward or back. A good way for employees to know how they should be seated is for them to use their fingers. They should have a three or four finger width distance between the back of their knee and the front edge of the seat.
The Armrest of the Ergonomic Chair
One more component of the ergonomic chair that needs to be considered are the armrests. Armrests provide support for the upper part of the forearms, which can help reduce the stress in the shoulders, back and neck. To adjust the armrest a button can normally be found on the side of the chair. This button will allow your employees to raise or lower the armrests, but this may differ from chair to chair. Employees should adjust the armrests to elbow height. This is because when the armrests are too high, it will cause discomfort in the shoulders and if they are too low it can negatively affect the posture of the back and neck.