Introduction to Ergonomic Desk Chairs

An ergonomic desk chair is designed to reduce stress and strain on your body while you sit and type for eight or nine hours. That means proper support for your back and neck, adjustable features you can set to fit your frame, and enough range to let you sit differently as the day goes on. Lumbar support adjusts to the inward curve of your lower back. Armrests move up, down, forward and back. Seat depth changes to fit your leg length.

Here's what you get when the chair actually fits:

• Improved posture: Proper support for your back and neck keeps your spine aligned without you having to think about it. Muscle strain drops. Back pain becomes less likely.
• Increased productivity: Discomfort is distracting. When your chair doesn't hurt, you stay focused longer and get more done before you need to stand up and move.
• Reduced risk of injury: A chair that supports your lower back and keeps your shoulders level prevents the repetitive strain that builds up over weeks of bad positioning. You're less likely to pull something or develop chronic pain.

Choosing one means checking a few specific things:

• Look for adjustable lumbar support: Your lower back curves inward. The chair needs to push into that curve at exactly the right height for your torso, which means the support has to move up and down and sometimes tilt forward. Non-adjustable lumbar is worse than none.
• Look for adjustable armrests: Armrests take weight off your shoulders and neck, but only if they're at the right height. They should move up and down at minimum, ideally forward and back as well. Fixed armrests force you into one position.
• Test it out: Sit in the chair for at least fifteen minutes before you buy it. Adjust everything. Type on a desk at the height you actually use. A chair that feels fine for two minutes can be unbearable by hour three.

The next article covers specific brands and what each one adjusts, with measurements and trade-offs.