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Do I Need A New Office Chair?

A chair represents one of the most valuable items in our homes and offices. Since they are used in our day-to-day lives, we ought to ensure that they are in the best possible shape. When they are comfortable enough, we can relax more at home and be more productive at work. However, how often do we realize that it is indeed time to get a new one? The answer to that will help you address the question, “Do I Need a New Chair?” more effectively.

The most important 7 signs that you need a new office chair are:

Getting a new chair is not just a matter of boosting the aesthetics of your office. A new chair will ensure you experience those backaches and soreness less often. Physical comfort and productivity go hand in hand. You can be more productive if you feel comfortable. Therefore, a chair is not just a chair. A chair needs to be in great shape.

Numerous signs may show your chair may need replacing. Many people overlook these signs and end up paying a hefty price. Soreness in your body or back should be the clearest sign yet that you need a new chair. If your chair’s backrest does not offer good lumbar support, kindly get another one.

Flattened seat cushions are another clear sign that you ought to get yourself a new chair.

This post will highlight the signs that show you need a new chair. It will point out the benefits of having a good chair that is in excellent condition. It shall additionally touch on what a great and recommended sitting position entails.

Granted, most people value this piece that we call a chair. However, they come short when it comes to maintain it and to use it appropriately. Our pointers here should help you to adopt a different approach and start “sitting right.” If your Ergonomic chair is past its prime, move it on and get a new one.

7 SIGNS YOU NEED A NEW OFFICE CHAIR

1. Body Pain and General Soreness

This can result especially while sitting in a particular position for a long duration. Body pain and soreness that are often felt in your back are good indicators that your chair needs replacing.

A poor chair can also give you a lot of neck and shoulder pain. A good chair will allow you to sit for extended periods without feeling a lot of body pain, soreness, or high levels of discomfort.

2. If Your Chair Is Ragged and Worn Out

You can tell the length of time a chair has been used by its rugged appearance. The leather covers are all torn, and the fabrics are exposed. Another sign that can depict how far gone your chair is it may have many bumps in the padding.

These signs make for a very ugly-looking chair. More importantly, they highlight how “spent” your chair is. Once you get to see these uncharacteristic features, it’s time to replace it.

3. If your Chair Lacks Good Lumbar Support

Lumbar support is essentially the support that the backrest of a chair provides. The minute your chair ceases to offer a good and comfortable backrest, go out and get another one. Over time, the absence of good lumbar support from your chair can cause your back to bend forward.

Stressed discs in your spine can result in a lot of muscle fatigue in the short run. However, there is an even more detrimental effect in the long run. You can experience a lot of back pains and, as a result, develop a very poor body posture.

4. Damaged Parts or Joints

Now, this is a huge problem. It is a potentially dangerous situation both for yourself and those who surround you. Even without a closer look at a damaged chair with spoilt parts and joints, the rickety sounds can alert you. If its wheels are stuck or feel a bit lose for a work chair, dump that chair. If you keep sitting on it, you are bound to fall over soon enough.

A chair with stuck wheels is tough to roll and move around. It does not readily respond to our movements. The knobs and levers found on the chair also offer valuable insight into whether a chair needs to be replaced.

These are usually used to adjust the height of the chair and elevation of its backrest. If they cannot perform these functions with the expected ease, the chair needs to go.

5. Flattened Seat Cushions

The seat cushions of our chairs are normally filled with foam. New chairs are characterized by “puffy” seat cushions that are comfortable. Repeated sitting on the seat cushion compresses it after some time. This leaves it flattened with a different appearance than it had initially.

The work of a seat cushion is to support your body weight. When it has reached a point that it has flattened, it ceases to do this effectively. As a result, there is increased stress on the lower part of your back. Increased stress on your back can leave you feeling a lot of pain and body ache.

6. It Is Just No Longer Comfortable Enough For You

This is as simple as it sounds. It is easy to notice when your chair has stopped being comfortable. You are the one that sits on it and should enjoy unlimited levels of comfort.

Think of a situation where you spend many hours sitting in an uncomfortable chair. If it is a work chair, it could mean you will get very little work done. Your productivity can nosedive just by the fact that your chair offers you a lot of discomforts.

7. It Does Not Offer a Great Sitting Posture

A good chair should offer you a great sitting posture. There are standard descriptions of what a good sitting position entails. The middle and lower part of your back should be well-supported by the backrest of the chair.

Your feet should reach the floor. If they do not reach the floor, the chair has to provide a footrest. This footrest should provide you with a reasonable level of elevation that will enable you to have a good sitting posture.

The chair should preferably have adjustable armrests whose positions can be adjusted to suit you.

WHAT DOES A GOOD SITTING POSTURE ENTAIL?

A lot of research by doctors and chiropractors has put forth some recommendations of a good sitting posture. First, a good sitting posture has your feet touching the floor.

In an event where they do not reach the floor, a footrest has to be in place to hold your feet. A good sitting posture comprises of your middle and lowers back being well-supported by an adjustable backrest. This is crucial to avoid back pain, body ache, and general soreness.

The sitting surface of the chair has to be just right. It should possess dimensions that leave adequate space between the back of your knees and the chair’s front part. If your chair can help you achieve the above positions and have a good sitting posture, keep it. If it does not, trash it!

Benefits of a Good Office Chair

A good chair comes with a host of these benefits.

1. It Offers You A Lot of Comforts

Working for prolonged periods necessitates that you have a comfortable chair. A lot of research has proven that there is a positive relationship between a chair and the overall productivity of an individual. A good chair boosts productivity. This is possible through the comfort provided to the worker. A person is essentially more likely to produce more work of a higher quality when seated comfortably.

2. Improves Posture

A good chair can result in a good posture of an individual. How, you may ask? When a chair is uncomfortable, it places a lot of stress on a person’s back. Over time, this can be manifested through a weird walking style. This may even lead to a poor permanent posture if the situation is not addressed.

3. Eliminates Back Pain

Back pains result from excessive and prolonged stress on the muscles on your back. When put under extreme stress, these back muscles and ligaments get affected. You can thus experience a lot of pain in your back. A good chair will offer a good backrest and minimize the chances of backache and soreness in your body.

4. Better Engagement

Investing in a comfortable chair will result in increased engagement with your work. Increased engagement creates a positive atmosphere and works culture. A good chair leaves you more motivated to work.

A positive work culture means happier work sessions. Increased happiness and satisfaction during your work sessions are important ingredients in achieving higher productivity.

5. Common Workplace Injuries Are Minimized

Injuries like bumping into a chair to falling over are fairly common in the office. These unnecessary incidents can be prevented by getting a good chair. There will be fewer unplanned medical expenses to cater to unforeseen injuries.

6. The Overall Day-To-Day Tasks Are Made Easier

The adjustable features of an Ergonomic chair are very useful. They go a long way in boosting the overall comfort of your chair. You can adjust the seat height and the backrest. This helps to achieve a sitting position that is comfortable for you. You do not need to strain to get to an item that you need. A good chair allows you to shift it around effortlessly to get to the items you need.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GOOD CHAIR?

1.Right Seat Height

Your height will be crucial in determining if a seat height is right for you. A seat height of 16 to 21 inches off the floor is considered the appropriate standard measure. A good chair should allow us to adjust its height easily. When sitting, your feet should be able to be stationed flat on the floor.

Your thighs must be horizontal to the chair. This will prevent leg pains. The best seat height is that which enables your arms and your desk to be at the same level. It should also allow you to achieve a good resting position for your back. The right seat height will give blood circulation around your body a huge boost!

2.Right Width And Depth

The recommended width for your office chair should generally be around 17 to 20 inches wide. On the other hand, a suitable seat depth should be enough to allow you to position your back on the backrest.

It has been suggested that the width should leave 2 to 4 inches between the back of your knees and the seat of the chair. With a good seat depth, you can distribute your body weight evenly on your chair. This offers you a “good sitting experience”.

3.Good Seat Material

Here, your chair should be made with a material that is comfortable enough. The best material is the one that has enough padding. Such material will enable you to sit comfortably for extended periods.

This will come in handy, especially when you are working. A harder material will cause a lot of strain on your back and thighs, and general soreness of the body may also be felt.

4.Good Back Rest

A good backrest is that which supports your back and the lumbar region very well. A 12 to 19 inches wide backrest is the most recommended measure. A good backrest should come with a locking mechanism.

This will be useful in adjusting the seat forward or backward. The mechanism also prevents the backrest from going too far forward or too far backward. What this does is offer you the most desirable angle for more comfortable sitting.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Many factors need to be considered when you are in search of a new chair. A good sitting posture should be a priority. This is because a sitting posture has a direct relationship with your health. If a chair offers a good sitting posture, there will be no back pains, body aches, and poor postures.

A comfortable office chair will make you more productive. In essence, when you have decided to replace a new chair, go for the best. The best here means an amazing chair that will check most of your boxes, if not all!

Do I Need A New Chair? 7 Important Signs

Do I Need A New Office Chair?