If you work at a desk, if you spend your days sitting in an office, a studio or at home you certainly know what a desk chair is and how important it is to have a good one. If you are new to the topic (maybe you just started your career or changed work), here are a few pieces of advice on how to select a good desk chair.
First of all, why is it so important? Well, sitting long hours is not good for our health because it increases the risk of chronic health problems: heart disease, diabetes, back, shoulder and neck problems, bad blood circulation. In addition, if this was not enough already, too much sitting can be bad for concentration and can lead to depression. While it is best to alternate periods of sitting to movement (walking, stretching, jogging), we all know this is not always an option, and even if we are able to do some exercise, when sitting we can hurt ourselves. How? Sitting on the wrong chair. This is why we need a desk chair, and not whichever desk chair, but a good one.
How do we tell a quality desk chair from a bad one? You have to look into some of its features. To start with, check that the backrest and seat are adjustable. The lower back has a natural curve that tends to flatten when we sit long hours forcing us into a wrong posture. Secondly, pay attention to the material the chair is built with, which should be durable, with sufficient padding, and it is best if it breathes, dissipating moisture and heat.
Also the armrests are an important element of a good office chair, as they can reduce pressure on the lower part of our back. Finally, ensure that the desk chair you are about to buy has a good stability.
It is clear that a decent desk chair will not come cheap, and since you want a long-lasting product you should not search for a bargain, rather, you should see it as an investment for your health and your productivity in the long run. Similarly, if you are an employer and are looking for chairs for your employees, remember you are in charge of your workers’ health and that taking care of them will repay you back – research shows that workers using a good quality desk chair work longer hours, are happier and have a higher productivity rate.
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