Ergonomic Office Chairs for Comfort & Back Pain

We spend up to 8 hours a day sitting in our office chair, so it comes as no surprise that it is the most common cause of discomfort. For this reason it is important that you invest in a good quality ergonomic office chair. A good ergonomic office chair should have three basic features:

1. Adjustable back rest height - so you can position the lumbar support in the correct position for your spine.
2. Adjustable seat height - so you can position your seat height at the right height for your desk and feet.
3. Adjustable back rest angle - so you can position your back rest at the right angle for your spine.

There should also be a 5-point base with castors and some form of lumbar support. Ideally, if your budget permits there are now some great additional ergonomic adjustments you can get on ergonomic chairs. These include:

1. Adjustable seat pan depth - so you can adjust your seat pan depth to best fit your seated posture.
2. Adjustable seat pan angle - so you can adjust your seat pan angle to best suit your preferred sitting posture.
3. Adjustable lumbar support - so you can adjust the amount of lumbar support.
4. Adjustable seat tilt tension - so you can adjust how far back your chair tilts back when you lean back. 

We stock a range of ergonomic office chairs that offer the following benefits:

1. Improve your comfort when sitting
2. Improve your sitting posture
3. Reduce lower back pain & neck pain

Our range of office ergonomic chairs includes

• Small/Petite Office Ergonomic Chairs
• Heavy Duty Office Ergonomics Chairs (rated up to 160kg)
• AFDRI Level 6 Rated Office Ergonomic Chairs
• Drafting / Bench Height Office Ergonomic Chairs / Stools
• Saddle Chairs
• Mesh Back Office Chairs
• Task Chairs
• Office Chairs for Back Pain
• Comfortable Office Chairs

How to Pick the Right Ergonomic Chair

First and foremost you must have a good quality ergonomic chair. Your chair should have these basic features:

• Adjustable back rest height
• Seat height adjustable via a gas lift
• Adjustable back rest angle
• Adequate seat depth and padded seat
• Made of high quality material
• Come with a multi year warranty (5+)
• Swivel chair
• Be a comfortable chair to sit on for long hours

There should also be a 5-point base with castors and some form of lumbar support. Ideally, if your budget permits there are now some great additional ergonomic adjustments you can get on ergonomic chairs. These include:

• Adjustable seat pan depth
• Adjustable seat pan angle
• Adjustable lumbar support
• Adjustable seat tilt tension.

Make sure you are sitting in your chair with good posture. When you first sit down, you should make adjustments in order to appropriately set the chair up for your body.

This includes:

Height of the seat

Seat height should be the first thing you adjust at any workstation. The height of the chair must be adjusted so that your wrists are at the same height or slightly below your elbows. Your hips should be at right angles (90 – 100 degrees) when sitting in your chair. Now that you have positioned your seat at its correct height, do your feet reach the floor? If they do not, you will require a footrest to help bridge the gap between your feet and the floor.

The sitting position used above is designed to put your neck and shoulders in a relaxed position. Sitting too low to your desk may promote “shrugging” of your shoulders as you try to reach up to your desk.

Angle of the backrest

The general rule of thumb is to have your backrest angle set at 90-100 degrees in order to promote an upright sitting posture.

Height of the backrest

Ergonomic office chairs often tend to have lumbar support in the lower part of the backrest that is specifically contoured to support your lower back and spine. If you position your backrest too high or too low, this lumbar support will feel as though it is digging into your hips or into your mid-back. One easy way to check if the backrest is too high is to place your hand behind your back. If you can slide your hand behind your back while you are seated, you may have positioned the lumbar support too high. There are a wide range of chairs on the market that contain varying backrest heights.

Ideally, the backrest of a good ergonomic chair should come up to the height under your shoulder blades. In most cases, these chairs are termed or labelled as a ‘high backrest chair’. If your budget permits, investing in a high backrest chair is a good idea.

If, however, you have a short stature, then a normal backrest height may already provide back support up to your shoulder blades. Taller individuals will always require a high backrest due to the longer length of their torso. When you are sitting in your chair, your back should completely rest against the backrest and your backside should be sitting right back into the chair. Some people prefer to sit on the edge of their chair; however, this posture provides no back support and places greater strain on your back muscles due to their constant activation. Make sure your chair wheels move smoothly and freely over the floor when you are moving away from the desk.

Saddle Chairs

If you are looking for an alternative to a standard office chair, why not consider changing to an ergonomic saddle chair. One of the unique differences between a saddle chair and a traditional office chair is that the saddle chair promotes a very different sitting posture. The saddle chair places your body into correct postural alignment. This means that your spine is positioned in an anatomically correct way. The more time you spend sitting in this position, the stronger your back and core muscles will become, making it easier to adopt the correct posture. The increased angle between the knees and the hips, as well as the activation of the leg muscles to stabilize your body, takes the pressure off of your lower back. This can help to relieve discomfort for those who experience lower back pain when sitting for extended periods. However, it is not just the lower back that experiences the difference. Saddle chairs are a great option for home office or as a gaming chair.

Kneeling Chair

Another alternative to a traditional office chair and even a saddle seat is a kneeling chair. If you are experiencing back pain from sitting on your chair, it may be worth considering a kneeling chair. Many people who struggle to get comfortable on a traditional office chair report an improvement in back pain symptoms from introducing a kneeling chair. The kneeling chair will allow you to sit in a half kneeling position, but in a way that doesn't cause too much pressure on your knees. It can take a little bit to adjust to sitting in this posture, however once you do, many report it to be very comfortable.