What Is Ergonomics?
What is Ergonomics?
The average American spends more hours working than sleeping. Despite this, a lot of people spend little time or money when purchasing an office chair. While a good mattress is no doubt important to health, sitting in a good chair is as important, if not more so, to your well being. Because sitting is not a natural position for the human body it’s common for a person to become fatigued, sore, and less efficient during long periods of sitting. Ergonomic chairs are designed to alleviate all of these negative symptoms. Having the right chair can truly make the difference between a miserable day and a good one. The word ergonomics derives from the latin ‘ergon’ (work) and ‘nomoi’ (law). It is a field of scientific study that centers on the interaction of the human body with its physical surroundings. More simply, it’s the science of efficiency and comfort while working. View Our Ergonomic ChairsHow to use Ergonomics
Ergonomics in action means:
- Doing a task in as few steps as possible, with as little motion as possible.
- Tasks should be done using the largest muscle group possible (example: it’s better to use your whole arm, rather than just your wrist, when moving a computer mouse).
- Joints should be at the midpoint of their range as often as possible.
- Maintaining a posture that is upright, yet comfortable.
- Being in a position that doesn’t cause pressure points or soreness in the body.
In order to do these things, one must be extremely self-conscious of one’s body, observing and adjusting during every activity to ensure that the body is properly aligned and one is adhering to the principals of ergonomics. In order to be proficient at this, one would have to receive special training…OR utilize an ergonomic chair.
How a Chair Can Help With
Ergonomics
Ergonomic chairs are designed to make the human body comfortable while it rests in the unnatural position of sitting. This means the proper areas of the body are supported and positioned for efficient movement. Ergonomic chairs will have multiple adjustment options in order to fit you and your work style. Features such as lumbar support, adjustable back height, seat depth adjustment, and movable arms, allow you to create a chair that is so comfortable it will feel as though it were custom designed for your body.
Why is an Ergonomic Chair Important?
There are both short term and long-term benefits to be derived from sitting in an ergonomic chair.
In the short term your work will be easier, more efficient, and more comfortable. Sitting in a non-ergonomic chair will slowly wear you down and cause fatigue, which will lead to an inefficient and unhappy workday. When your body feels good, you feel good, and this will be reflected in your work.
In the long term, there can be serious health risks from sitting in an inadequate chair. A sore neck, tension headaches, a weak lower back, bulging spinal disks, sore shoulders, and carpal tunnel syndrome are just a few of the ailments that can happen to someone that works in a non-ergonomic environment.
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