Review of the best ergonomic chairs.

 

I did this review during 3 years of extensive testing of ergonomic chairs for work, my idea is to examine what kind of alternatives are available for reducing backache and the contractures that often occur in sedentary jobs: office chairs more comfortable and economical, ergonomic Varier chairs (ex stokke) expensive, or other options?

Computer Work Seats: the 2 correct postures

Above you can see both of the correct positions you should have when sitting at a computer. In the first case we can see a standard static position: the pelvis is at 90° and the back is parallel to the monitor and perpendicular to the keyboard. In the second example we can see the dynamic position of an ergonomic seat that shows the more than 100° angle between hips and legs with a pivoting seat and support for the lumbar region and knees.  Besides postural problems during office working hours or at a VDU, there are also postural problems caused by rigidity and tension characteristic of occupational or emotional stress.
Articular rigidity becomes combined with a series of uncorrect postures and improvised gymnastics to give temporary relief to the effects of the rigidity we accumulate all year round. These three primary factors (rigidity, misaligned posture and improvised gymnastics), can lead to critical situations for both the back and articulations, leading to the need for rehabilitation specialists or help from a professional masseur (physiotherapy, rehabilitation massage such as Rolfing or gymnastics like Pilates followed by a therapist).
Note for those that wish to gift a posture chair for Christmas: make sure you ask them first if they’ve ever tried one!

How to choose the correct ergonomic chair

To the article on how to choose the ergonomic chair that best suits your needs, in some cases the cheaper brands are not worth it.

Improvised gymnastics

With improvised gymnastics it is intended the whole series of movements that we voluntarily start using and that little by little become part of our habitual movements: finger cracking, neck cracking, suddenly turning backwards, eye rubbing, disharmonic shoulder stretching etc. Looking for immediate relief for contractures stratified through years of sedentary work is one of the main reasons we start doing improvised gymnastics. Even though making these series of movements every day may seem to temporarily resolve stress and tension, in fact we are causing them by stratifying more unnatural movements (here can be found the study of body and movement from which these observations have been taken. Be careful not to confuse instinctive yawning or stretching (when not done following a conscious thought), they’re very positive for the body, giving instant relaxation.

The function of breathing

It may seem incredible but any tension can dissolve with a deep breath. Any external support we offer our body, including ergonomic seats, can be no more that a palliative treatment compared to the effects of physical, emotional or psychic training that all have correct breathing as a basic requirement.

constipation

Problems of constipation can be relieved with a correct ergonomic posture. La position of the spine properly aligned between shoulders and pelvis provides the intestines with the right position for normal fecal flow. Obviously this is the case when the constipation is caused by postural problems and not uncorrect eating habits, stress from hectic lifestyle etc. In these cases no chair will be of help. In my own case however, during the first month of use of my, kneeling chair I noticed an increase in the need to go to the bathroom, especially in the morning.

external supports ( POSTURAL seats and kneeling chairs)

Practically all the projects that you’ll see in the following reviews come from the immense work of the designer Peter Opsvik. Every chair studied for those that work in front of a computer all day have pros (for example the possibility to change position by kneeling), and cons (some chairs need some ‘’running in’’ time to get used to the strange seating method). Here are various solutions of normal chairs and ergonomical office seats.

Office chair with arm rests and and casters

cost: 60 – 100 Euro (can be found much cheaper at Ikea or at Euroffice)
size: reasonable

This is a very normal office chair with casters… the most economical solution ( they are sometimes called operative chairs). In order to use this classic typing seat with casters and arms it’s necessary to regulate perfectly the chair hight in order to achieve a 90° angle between legs and back (which should be vertical and slightly leaning back). It’s also useful to have a well toned body, as is standing up often and walking around the office, getting some coffee. The fact is, after ten years or so we will end up giving all the money we didn’t invest in a chair to a physiotherapist who will try to get rid of the pain caused by the bad posture we’ve had for years.
In this case it’s possible to find triangular footrests (here are some economical footrests), often in plastic, that are no more than wedge shaped platforms. They can be combined with this kind of office chairs to slightly alleviate the burden of tension that accumulates in the higher part of the back.

How to choose a traditional office chair

This kind of common office chair has no particular design so you might as well get a cheap one. Some aspects to consider are:

• The possibility to regulate in hight (useful to adapt the chair to any workspace without having to use platforms
• The possibility to incline the chair downwards in the front part
• The possibility to incline downwards the front of the chair is an important adjustment.

Inclining the seat has the scope of enlarging the angle between pelvis and back, an action that counterbalances the tendency many have to “stoop forward” while working at a desk. The position resembles the one used with Stokke type kneeling chairs. It’s also important to remember that too much comfort in an intensively used
working seat can be an impediment.

Note on abdominal breathing

It must be mentioned that if the need for an ergonomical chair derives from the tension caused by working many hours in the same position, it can also be useful being aware of the kind of breathing we use while working. Insufficient abdominal breathing may cause the pelvis to contract upon itself, leading to the conseguent
eccesive curving forward of the shoulders.
Taking a 5 minute break every 2 or 3 hours to breath with your abdomen is also a good way to relax your spinal column (warning… if you smoke it may not work very well).

Surreal Ergonomic Projects For Videogame Racing Simulations

price: unrealistic

This is a project for a space simulation seat that’s so absurd I’m putting it here
just for fun. Designer’s folly 1 – rest of the world zero.

Kneeling chairs

Model: Metal stool with knee rests and stool with knee rest on casters
price: around 80 euro (catalogue Misco e Viking)
Model: ergonomic stool in Cinius wood
price: around 100 euro (catalogue Cinius)
models of artisan made ergonomic chairs (Vispa chair style): 200/250 Euro
Model: kneeling chair
price: importation USA, around 50 euro with good exchange.
size: good for small offices
This is an ergonomic office chair similar to a stool with knee (or leg) support. This kind of stool has casters and allows full movement of feet and ankles… so you can roll and lol around while still sitting! According to my tests, the use of these kneeling stools can reduce the need for interruptions up to 20% compared to a normal chair, but it will however still be necessary to get up and move every so often. While having the benefit of being extremely economical, this kind of stool, although called ergonomic, doesn’t resolve problems tied to backache (often caused by prolonged static positions), and need a phase of ‘training’ because at first they seem pretty uncomfortable. It must also be noted that they are deliberately without arm rests (in a correct position, the arms should lie along the sides of the body, and the shoulders relax when the position of the keyboard is just above the level of the hips). Tha absence of a backrest will be felt after a few of the many hours we pass at the monitor. These models of chairs for desks with kneerests are an economical alternative and very similar to the pointlessly expensive Varier Multi Balans, and even though they’re often called orthopaedic stools, they don’t really have much to do with the concept of orthopaedia.

Ergonomic Aeron Chairs

Model: Aeron office chair
price: from 800 Euro
where to buy: USA shop, ventilated versions (low cost), equivalent versions Hag
size: more bulky than a standard chair
This is an Aeron chair(designer Herman Miller) with backrest and seat in mesh. It’s a kind of office chair with an elastica backrest that allows the back a larger surface without sweating or pressing on the same spots. The Aeron office chair was designed to not havr any rigid parts in contact with the body that could influence posture. The seat is adjustable and can be inclined forwards to increase the angle between back and legs. Having the pelvis with a vertical aperture larger than 90° can be useful to prevent lordosis. However it’s too comfortable an office chair to use for long periods because the mobility of hips and legs is the only way to avoid damage from too much immobility.

Review ergonomic swivel stool Grima Twinny

price: 460 euro circa (ebay shop)
size: small
The ergonomic seat Twinny is a strange hybrid that offers an economical alternative to the expensive Varier Wing stool. It offers backrest and kneerest, plus the possibility to regulate in hight (it fits all sizes of desks). Although the casters tend to make you lose balance while using the kneerest, you soon get used to it.
In my opinion, the Grima Twinny ergonomic chair’s main flaw is it’s size, along with the fact that it doesn’t allow complete hip movement. On the positive side, it has a well inclined seat, with the lumbar support that adapts well and sustains. It’s surely a good project, with many interesting characteristics, but the price is high for the type of materials used and the typology of chair (maybe forced by the scarce number of copies in circulation?)

Varier Variable Ergo Stool (ex Stokke)

Model: Stokke Ergonomic Chair Variable Balans by Varier
price: around 300 Euro (new) available in Stokke ergonomic chair shop
cost Backrest (optional): around 150 Euro.
On offer: Stokke Variable is on offer in the shop Ausilium at 290
Euro (second hand ones can be found slightly cheaper on eBay)

size: more bulky than a normal chair (needs room behind for swinging)
Varier chairs are comfortable and especially versatile. This is an ergonomic Stokke Variable studio seat in wood with kneerest, costs around 300€ and has a 20year old design (Opsvik again). It’s pretty cumbersome for any small office but among the office chairs that help back problems it’s one of the best solutions because it has a tilt back mecchanism (like a granny’s rocking chair). The two runners in vapour pressed wood offer suspensions that make the seat ergonomicalelastic whan you sit on it. The arch at the base doesn’t allow you to remain still, you find yourself rocking all day: this means constant movement of the pelvis and movements of the superior articulations that allow to restore balance whan relaxing. The two knee stools are for alternating the kind of seating (standard, and kneeling as in praying).
With this chair it’s possible to reduce pauses during work of 40%-50% without evident pain or imbalance. A period of adaption of about fifteen days is necessary, during which time you find yourself wondering about life and the sense of things. The lack of a backrest lowers (mysteriously) the cost of the Stokke Variable on the catalogue “office chairs” up to 50% compared to a Stokke Thatsit. It’s also possible to buy the backrest separately to assemble in a further moment.
Although the Stokke Variable is a postural computer chair where you rest on the knees, it’s also possible using it as a “normal” chair opening the legs to avoid the nearest. Changing to the classic seating on an ergonomic chair is a way to move now and then during the hours working or studying, but it’s a habit we should try to get used to because using the ‘’praying position’’ it’s easy to lose the necessity for normal seating.

Note on the size of the Varier Variable

We have tried the Varier in the whole office and Thomas who is 1.85cm tall fits to the limit. The Variable is certainly not suitable for anyone over 1.90cm (he wouldn’t know where to put his feet). For my hight (1.70), the Varier is a perfect ergonomic solution and should be fine for people up to 1.50cm. Shorter personswould have problems because the Varier doesn’t have adjustable knee rests and the distance between the seat and the supports is fixed. In order to use this Stokke as an ergonomic computer chair it’s necessary to own a desk that is hight adjustable, because in a correct posture your arms should lie alongside the bodywithout bringing tension to the shoulders; of all the computer chairs examined, the Variable Varier is the one with the best value for money. This Stokke chair is the only one I have found cheap imitations for. The Stokke patent and the wood vapour bending tecnique used for the lower runners make all Stokke products difficult to copy.

Imitation Stokke Varier Balans ergo chairs

available prior to importation from America the YogaChair, very similar to the Stokke Varier both in size and weight. Seeing as the ergonomic YogaChair is a non ufficial replica, it costs a lot less: 99 dollars (to which have to be added the shipment costs of 50/80€ and the customs clearance of another 50/100euro). We contacted the YogaChair firm about importation to Europe of their office chairs but they don’t ship to Europe (probably for patent problems), but only to Switzerland.

Ergonomic Chair Stokke Varier Thatsit

Model: Ergonomic Chair Stokke Thatsit Varier
size: fairly bulky
price: and where to find it:

• around 880 Euro (nuova italia) here is the cheapest shop I could find in Italy for the Stokke-Varier Thatsit
• 400/550€ (used Stokke ebay auction + shipment)

This is the ergonomic chair Thatsit Balans by Varier, which is basically the evolution of the ergonomic seat Oposit (a Stokke Variable with backrest) and it includes the lumber support (or kidney friend) which just happens to be my favourite of all the seats for correct posture. After having tried so many, I think that the Variable model by Stokke is the best computer seat for intensive work (practically it’s the only real ergonomic computer chair and has three strong points:

• rocking chair’s curved runners
• knee stool
• backrest

practically 4 different kinds of seating, constant movement, relax for shoulders. Around 15 days are needed for this chair too, after which the pauses at work will reduce to around 60%-70%. Unfortunately it’s not easy to find at a reasonable price. At the end of the trials in the office, Stokke Thatsit was considered by everyone the best postural ergonomic chair with backrest in circulation, besides being an ergonomic chair with certification VDU (certification for visual display unit). This model of ergonomic chair offers the most complete help to posture offering both alignment of the pelvis and the lumbar support to keep the spine straight. Backrest and knee rests are padded and comfortable (I find them ideal for intensive computer work). After various months of testing the Stokke Thatsit Varier I noticed with pleasure that when I’m on a normal seat I still keep the correct acquired position. This was my first ergonomic chair and I must say that it did my back good, especially in the periods of intense use. Note on the stature needed for optimal chair use The Thatsit has adjustable knee rests and also the lumbar support can be moved back and forward. This allows an ergonomically correct seating to people of every hight (Andrea is 1,92 and he was fine with it). I’m using a Stokke Thatsit since 2006 (that I preferred to the Variable for the presence of the backrest, and every so often I use different measurements for the knees according to how straight I want my back to be, I’m 1,70) and I still think it’s one of the best kind of chairs for bad backs.

Note on studies about spinal deformity

Due of note is the fact that Stokke in 1996 during the International Congress of Spinal Deformity presented a study on the prevention of scoliosis throught the use of ergonomic chairs with special seats that has resulted in decisive improvements in over 50% of the cases examined (here you can download the complete study with referral to the congress ).

Note for trasport: this model of Stokke has been carried in my small ultility car (I have a city car) the only removable parts are the kneerests. In order to understand the size and the kind of seating offered, here is a list of the authorized Stokke shops where it’s possible to try them. This is the old model of Stokke Oposit ergonomic chair that I have.

Balt Chair for spinal alignment

price: around 400 euro (imported, qui le economic and ventilated versions)
size: cumbersome
This is a Balt Spine Align chair, it has an ergonomic BIFMA certification (that is given by producers and not medical or orthopaedic institutions) and we considered it in the review because it is actually an office chair. This Balt model office chair offers a particular support for the neck, has hight adjustment and little more. (it doesn’t have the variable inclination that the model Aeron has). Balt Spine Align takes it’s name from a central groove (visible in this photo) on the backrest, that leaves space for the backbone and should avoid nerve compression on the vertebra. What’s more, the Balt offers an unreachable dentist chair feeling. Considering the cost for the quality offered (quite comfortable but static large seat), I would say it’s not worth it.

Stokke Gravity Varier Balancing Chair of my dreams

Model: Stokke Gravity Balans Chair
price: obscene e prohibitive (over 1300 euro: shop Stokke)
size: huge (it’s seriously very big and cumbersome once assembled)
Here we have a Stokke Gravity, the most expensive and versatile ergonomic chair on the Stokke catalogue. Besides being over the top it allows you to tip it right back, it needs a lot of space and for a graphic or web designer it’s not humanly possible buying it without taking out a mortgage. This is the chair that the review is intitled to, because when I have the money and an office as big as a NASA hangar, I will definitely buy it for myself. The reclined position of the Stokke Gravity is more comfortable than any sofa in circulation and recalls the kind of seating offered by the Chaise Lounge by Le Corbusier. Note for transport: the Stokke Gravity is assembled, so it’s easy to take it apart to fit in a medium size car boot.

Ergo Hag Capisco Chair Review

Model: Ergo Hag Capisco Chair
price: 1100/1400 euro
400-600 euro imported (at the moment the official site HAG UK has disabled
price visualization for Europe)
size: bigger than a standard chair
I do understand that the Capisco designers aren’t guilty for the choice of the chair name (it means ‘understand’ in Italian), but it can bring about some funny misunderstandings. In the same price range of the della Stokke Gravity there is the Ergonomic chair Hag, model Capisco. Decidedly less bulky than the Gravity, the Capisco has an approach to ergonomics totally opposite to the Stokke Variable chairs. This Hag chair model allows various types of posture, some quite creative with the chair back to front and the backrest used to rest on leaning forward.
The fact of not having a unique sitting method makes the Hag chair a dynamic posture seat and adaptable to our every need. (watch the video on the ufficial HAG site ). I must precise that not always comfort is equivalent to a correct posture, because too much comfort always brings the risk of static positions, or even worse, static positions stratifying over time. In the Hag chair, the angle of the hips between back and seat is enlarged to about 100° having the legs pass in two grooves similar to that of a motorbiker (and in fact Opsvik was inspired by the posture of jockeys during a horse race). The inclination of the horizontal support can be increased at will and it’s almost possible to reach the the same angulation as a Stokke chair.
The Hag Capisco chair has also got a neck support and an interesting version of the supports for shoulders and arms that can be used when the chair is used back to front or sideways. The movement of trunk and lateral abdominals is guaranteed using leverage with the feet while leaning on the footring supports on casters that make the chair spin on it’s vertical axis. The HAG chairs have hight regulation, so allowing their use with all standard office desks and work tables.

Pendulum and Actulum Review

Model: ergo Varier Actulum reception chair
price: about 650 euro
size: standard
The ergonomic chair Actulum has the single merit of having limited rocking, that allows hip mobility and the dynamic position we have already described in the “how to choose an ergonomic chair” section. TheActulum’s construction form makes it ideal for reception work (hotels, client assistance and help desks) bacause it allows you to stand up very easily like a normal chair but it’s also comfortable for many hours of seated work. During the review, we noted that it needed a small period of adaptation compared to the ergonomic Varier chairs with curved runners . Unfortunately it’s not adjustable, so in this case too you’ll have to make sure the work top hight is variable or at least not too high. For particularly high help desks or assistance booths the solution could be the extremely expensive Hag Capisco, that costs more than double than the Actulum and has hight adjustment. Seeing as the shape is not so strange or different to traditional chairs, the Actulum seats are also suitable as dinner table or living room chairs.

Model stroller ergo Stokke Xplory

price: about 750 euro
positive points: higher than normal stroller, more secure, resistant materials and adjustable by age
negative: above average price.
I received an eccellent review of the Stokke strollers from Francesco, who spent a few months looking for a secure solution for his future child while he was waiting to become a father. Living in the city, he was worried about the frequent crossing of roads that often put normal low strollers at risk. Francesco tried the Stokke Xplory Stroller and was pleased at the hight that positions the baby higher than a car bumper and also a little farther away from the pollution of car exhausts (he is a little paranoic about air pollution, but we are too and appreciate his idea). PS. I know that it has nothing to do with office chairs! But the children are in an ergonomic position (never as much as having them walk though), and so I published the review anyway!

The concept of ergonomics

Starting with the definition of ergonomics it is the science that deals with the interactions between the elements of a system and the function for which they are designed for the purpose of improving user well-being and overall system performance. (def. I.E.A. from wikipedia)

The HÅG Seating Philosophy

HÅG of Norway has been manufacturing high quality Ergonomic Office Chairs for many years. Older products such as the Credo range have been replaced with updated models like the Futu chair and its H04 and H05 series.

HÅG Futu Task Chair

Ergonomics, design, quality and innovation go hand in hand with HÅG, the company has always made quality products and this is amply demonstrated by their excellent range of ergonomic office seating.

HÅG’s philosophy is a simple one and really centers around the words ”balance and freedom of movement.” The HÅG view is one of Dynamic Ergonomics and the belief that ”the best sitting position is the next one,” in other words it is perfectly normal for chair users to be continually moving their body in their chair.

When you sit in a HÅG ergonomic chair which is properly adjusted to your body size and weight you will find that as you move, the chair follows your movement to keep you balanced and supported . It really is a different seating experience and once you become attuned to it you won’t want to go back to a conventional office chair.

Visually, HÅG’s ergonomic seating range has a striking appearance, the clever use of shape, color and texture all combine to make their office seating completely distinctive and functional.

HÅG recognizes that not everyone likes the same things, some prefer a classical looking chair, others prefer soft round shapes for their seating, however everybody needs to find a seating solution they are happy with and offers the user excellent ergonomic design and comfort. For this reason HÅG produces many office chair ranges to suit our differing personalities however they are all carefully designed with the chair user in mind and universally true ergonomic office chairs.

You will find that all HÅG seating is easy to use and functional regardless of whether it is an entry level H04 model right up to a high end H09 Excellence chair.

There are lots of little things that make a HÅG special, for example when you buy one of their ergonomic office seats it is provided with its own little instruction book on how to set up and adjust your new HÅG chair.

And to make sure that the chair’s instructions never get lost, each HÅG chair includes a built-in filing slot on the underside of the seat pan to store it securely and keep it close at hand. So, if you ever need to adjust a feature on your chair in the future this little aide de memoir is always at hand as a useful little reference.

Another nice little feature is each of the adjustment levers on a HÅG ergonomic seat include a color coded button to make it easier for you to identify the function of the particular lever.

It’s not difficult to see why HÅG chairs are so ergonomically functional and carefully thought out. Their chairs are designed by some of the world’s leading designers.

People like Stag Ahlstrom responsible for the interior design work on Armanda International Airport or Soren Yran designer of the HÅG Scio as well as extensive interiors work in both Norway and the USA. Peter Opsvik designer of HÅG’s brilliant H04 range as well as the Balans kneeling chair.

You won’t find HÅG taking an existing seating product and just giving it a quick make over. Instead they employ these top designers to go back to first principles to come up with an ergonomic seat of true top quality, originality of design and function built to meet your seating requirements without compromise.

Ergonomic Evolution is a true believer of this philosophy and incorporates it into the ergonomic consulting we provide. The emphasis on  variation, movement, and natural body posture is the defining backbone to what we do ergonomically. HAG has been an innovator for quite some time providing real thought out ergonomic seating that actually functions to the users benefit but also with style. The old days of chair designers providing seating with an emphasis on knowing purchasing behaviors rather than real ergonomic functionality are quickly showing that the masses are looking for function and ergonomic quality rather than a good marketing campaign or immediate gratification when seated.

As a HAG chair provider, We stand behind this product 100%. Once you “get the HAG chair” philosophy, you may never what to sit in another chair again.

http://www.ergonomicevolution.com/ergonomic_chairs_seating.html

The History of the Ergonomic Chair

This type of chair evolves with the changing workplace.

Starting as a basic-enough solution to the backaches and sore necks that workers suffered from prolonged computer use, ergonomic chairs have turned into modern art. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, “ergonomics” refers to the science of equipment design to maximize musculoskeletal comfort and support, especially in the workplace. With funky chair backs, arms and design-centric features, ergonomic chairs have become healthy alternatives for the office.

1. Term

   • Polish biologist Wojciech Jastrzebowski created the term “ergonomics” in 1857. Derived from the Greek words “ergon” (work) and “nomos” (natural laws), he used the word in an article he wrote which, translated from Polish, is “The Outline of Ergonomics, i.e. Science of Work, Based on the Truths Taken from the Natural Science.” The term “ergonomics” entered the language and stuck.

   Earliest Ergonomics

   • According to NewErgonomicChairs.com, a site that provides information for interested buyers, workplaces and musculoskeletal injury associations have been happening for centuries. Bernardino Ramazinni (1633-1714), a medical practitioner, complained of work-related injuries in a 1700s supplement called “De Morbis Artificum” (Diseases of Workers).

   Factories to Offices

   • Developed in the 1950s, the science behind ergonomics applied primarily to factory workers who sustained injuries, like arthritis, from repetitive labor.

     However, with the approach of computers and the office workplace in the 1980s, furniture designers needed to think of new office designs for people continually at work on computers.

     Office workers began complaining of aches and pains caused from prolonged sitting. Companies had to recognize these injuries as workplace injuries and pay medical support to employees who suffered backaches, neck cramps, arthritis from typing from an incorrect angle, and other ailments.

   First Chair: Wildfred Dauphin

   • Office workers in the 1980s complained of aches and pains from sitting.

     In 1968, Wilfred Dauphin, a German, was hired by a British company to research the impact of the computer on office furniture requirements. Because the British firm could not implement his full idea, he and his wife founded their own company out of their garage. Dauphin created the first ergonomic chair–a basic chair that allowed sitters to adjust the back and seat height. The market for these comfortable, adjustable chairs arose in Germany and spread around Europe and into the United States.

   Features

   • The first ergonomic chairs featured adjustable seats and wheels.

     In the 1980s and 1990s, ergonomic chairs met the basic requirements for producing healthier ways to sit and type. Chairs included wheels, a lever to adjust height, lower back support, and the correct heights for viewing and typing with straight wrists. Chairs were simple in design and aesthetic but met the general ergonomic guidelines.

     By 2010 chairs had become works of modern art. Space Age looking chairs feature rounded back support, mesh netting fabric for comfort and posture, tall and ribbed backs, and dental-looking chairs that exactly fit the curvature of the spine.

   Types

   • As of 2010, furniture designers had developed chairs for the modern worker who is glued to her computer not only for work but also in her off hours, browsing the Web, writing blogs, and posting photos.

     Chair types include kneeling chairs (where the worker sits with their thighs at an angle of about 60 degrees to 70 degrees from the original 90 degrees); ball chairs, where the worker sits in an egglike chair to talk on the phone or work on a laptop with a relaxed back; and the bubble chair, patented by Finnish designer Eero Aarnio in 1968, that looks similar to the ball chair but hangs from a chain on the ceiling. Although bubble chairs are not ideal for the office, they are comfortable and stylish additions to lounges, libraries and other communal spaces.

   Modern Requirements

   • The backs of modern chairs curve with the spine, not against it.

     According to the website of UbuntuToronto, an ergonomic product company, an interested shopper looking to buy needs to look for a truly ergonomic chair’s standard features. When seated, the back of the chair should curve with the spine. Your feet should rest level on the floor or footrest, and your shoulders should relax with the elbows close to the body. Ergonomic chairs also typically have wheels for easy swiveling and relocating without the user having to constantly stand up and sit down, which strains back muscles.

   By Noelle Carver, eHow Contributor

Ergonomic Evolution is your source for the most progressive ergonomic consulting and equipment. We do not address the”rules” we address the user and the task as a completely independent situation with its own rules. Contact us today to find out how we can address your ergonomic issues and get you and your business on the path of working healthy, safely, efficiently, and naturally.

A Taxonomy of Office Chairs

From Thonet to Pinanfarina, the evolution of deskside seatingOf all the far-reaching implications of the information age, technical innovations in office chair design define an era that could be named the desk-bound age. Here to put the contemporary mesh panels and lumbar supports in context, “A Taxonomy of Office Chairs” surveys the evolution of the workplace staple, beginning with the start of the Industrial Revolution. Amassed by design consultant Jonathan Olivares, the book details over 130 office chairs, classified by their distinguishing features. Chapters include “Headrest,” “Seat-Stem Joinery” and other thrilling topics, breaking down the design into components to show its chronological progression with over 400 technical drawings and a catalog of color photos.To better define the broad topic Olivares created one stipulation—the chair’s design must have introduced at least one novel featuret. Funded by Knoll, Olivares researched his subject by meeting with designers, manufacturers and furniture experts and archivists, who lent not only technical information, but also insight on the cultural impact the office chair has had on work itself.But his meticulousness didn’t end there. Olivares collected, inspected, compared and contrasted over 2,000 chairs, using scientific methodology. Toward the end of his search he was able to take advantage of Google Patents, which—though still in its infancy—helped him locate two chairs from the 1800s that “only exist in their patent applications.”Other standouts include chairs by Charles and Ray Eames, the Bouroullec brothers, Richard Sapper, Mario Bellini (who claims the three greatest moments in office chair history are the Industrial Revolution, his 1984 Persona chair and 2005 Headline chair), Frank Lloyd Wright and many more highly-revered designers and architects.

“A Taxonomy of Office Chairs” is available online from Phaidon and Amazon.

Kneeling Ergonomic Chair – A progressive spin on ergonomic seating.

Do you get back and neck pain because of the uncomfortable chair your using within the office each day? You can replace a hard and uncomfortable office chair with a kneeling ergonomic chair. It’s a terrific alternative to the conventional chair and takes pressure off your backbone by transferring your weight to your shins. They are ergonomically created and permit the hips as well as thighs to remain at a 160 degree angle.

Make it a point to grasp how a kneeling chair can help with your posture and back. A kneeling ergonomic chair aligns the neck, shoulders and back to the office desk in front of you. Instead of leaning forward like you would on a standard chair, a kneeling chair permits you to slide your hips forward in the direction of the office desk. This kneeling pose produces a more normal S shape rather than a curved and slouching position. Some people find this S position more comfy and produce less stiffness by the end of the day. If you find yourself slouching at the end of the day this is an indicator that your body is tired and needs a break. You may not have the stamina to hold yourself in the natural forward hip roll position for an entire day. Recognize what you body is telling you and make the appropriate change from active sitting to passive sitting (resting your back in a traditional chair)

Leaning forward in a kneeling position will activate more muscle tissues in your own body to carry your weight instead of placing all weight on your buttocks with a traditional chair. Though the majority of your weight would nonetheless be in your seat, some weight will be spread to your shins for improved support lowering the pressure on your lower back. The tilting position created by the kneeling ergonomic chair decreases pressure on your lower backside and eases compression to your spinal cord. It additionally forces you to utilize more abdominal muscle taking quite a lot of pressure out of your overall skeletal frame.

You may wonder why on earth you would need or desire a kneeling ergonomic chair. You have to understand that having one presents plenty of benefits to your well being and your spine. Back ache is an ordinary nuisance for lots of office employees who spend quite a lot of time on their desktops and office desks.(Estimated by the Mayo Clinic that 80 to 85% of office workers will have back pain to some degree in their lifetime.) You may do away with constant back problems with a kneeling chair.(The main reason for this is our bodies are simply getting used to be in this position while sitting), It’s a good replacement to traditional office chairs because kneeling chairs are extra spine-friendly and also affordable. A particular person with chronic back issues might in fact shell out more cash buying regular medical checkup or physical therapy. A kneeling chair that is ergonomically designed to assist with your back will save you more cash in the long run. Proper usage is also key so that you do not use the chair to the point of body and back fatigue.

Kneeling chairs have proved to be better for even the smallest desk tasks that entail sitting. The exact same goes for long term office work that requires a lot of forward reaching similar to working on a computer or writing. It’s important to know that a kneeling chair isn’t supposed to totally replace a standard sitting chair. It’s only supposed to aid standard chairs to give your back a much needed rest from holding a steady upright position and shouldn’t be utilized for the entire day at the office.

Ergonomic Evolution is your source for all types of ergonomic chairs including a variety of kneeling chairs. Contact us today to find out what ergonomic chair is right for you.  Don’t just site there…evolve!

Sitting takes toll on body, scientists find

Scientists in Ottawa are monitoring how blood pressure and oxygen consumption change as children sit and watch TV. (CBC)

The bodies of even the most physically active take a physiological hit from sitting for hours, say scientists who warn about health effects of an increasingly sedentary society and prescribe some standing advice. Canadian researchers are part of a pioneer field of study looking at the effects that sitting has on the body.

At a lab in Ottawa, scientists are observing children as they watch TV, monitoring their pressure and oxygen consumption. The scientists want to see how sedentary time, such as sitting all day at school and then channel surfing at night, harms children’s health.

After two to seven hours of uninterrupted sitting, there is evidence “that is enough to increase [subjects’] blood sugar, to decrease their good cholesterol and to have a real impact on their health,” said Travis Saunders, a researcher in exercise physiology at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute in Ottawa. Conventionally, sitting and lying down were seen as simply the opposite of moving. But our cells and muscles actually respond to the strains of prolonged sitting, said Mark Tremblay, director of the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group at CHEO. “There are certain physiologic mechanisms that come into play way down at the sedentary side that don’t factor in on the exercise side and vice versa,” Tremblay said. “So there appears to be different mechanisms at play.”

There are likely important physiological activities that go on while we sit that need to be studied separately from exercise physiology, he said. Early evidence suggests spending long periods sitting affects the entire body, from the way it metabolizes fat and sugars to how the brain functions, and raises osteoporosis risk through lower bone density.

It is possible to mitigate the damage with simple steps such as standing up regularly. The body “responds to very small interruptions in that sitting,” Tremblay said. “And this is where the promise might be.” Since our muscles don’t know the difference between contracting from lifting a barbell or books off a desk, adding exercise during the workday could help, researchers say. People are trying walking treadmill desks, standing workstations, walking meetings and sitting on exercise balls instead of chairs, and using computer prompts to remind themselves to build those interruptions into the workday. Children’s author Gillian Chan of Dundas, Ont., has a specially designed treadmill built into her desk so she can walk while she writes. “The first week I found it quite tiring, but after that, I found it almost energizing,” Chan said. “I felt much more alert.” Even someone who walks briskly or jogs for 30 minutes each day has 15.5 waking hours of sedentary time, researchers say, and this down time is expected to increase for most people. Read more:

Sedentary health effects — preliminary research A 2003 study showed each two-hour-per-day increase in TV viewing time was associated with a 23 per cent increase in obesity after taking other lifestyle factors like diet into account. Each two-hour-per-day increase in sitting at work was linked with a 5 per cent increased risk of obesity. Women who spent seven hours or more per day sitting had an increased risk of endometrial cancer compared to those who sit less than three hours per day. In 2008, Spanish researchers found the odds of having a mental disorder were 31 per cent higher for subjects who spent more than 42 hours a week watching TV than for those who watched fewer than 10.5 hours a week.

Source: CBC

If you sit for most of the day either at your desk or at home, consider also the other times you are sitting, for instance driving to and from work, while you are eating your meals. If you add all that time up over a course of a lifetime you would be sitting pretty close to a 1/3 of your life. A good way to combat the negative effects of sitting is to get an ergonomic workstation evaluation. This will prepare you in your current setup and future setups so that you will be in the best position throughout the day. Another solution is to get a dynamic ergonomic chair, this type of chair places you in a taller sitting position that encourages the forward hip roll posture and foot controlled movement. This increases blood flow while sitting and puts your body in a more natural position. Ergonomic Evolution is your source for both workstation evaluations and dynamic ergonomic chairs. Ergonomic Evolution is prepared to assist you in combating the effects of sitting all day and the toll it puts on your bodies. Contact us today to find out how easy and beneficial when ergonomics becomes a part of your life.

Don’t just sit there…. Evolve!

Tips on how to use a ball chair.

Proper Ball / Yoga chair usage.

I see Ball chairs all over when I visit businesses however I don’t see people sitting on them. I found that people want the ergonomic benefits but really don’t know how to use the ball chair properly.

The main reason one would want to use a ball chair is to strengthen their core and improve their posture.

I have only a few rules to accomplish this goal. The most important is not to over use it. This can actually cause more issues than it solves. The next rule is to get a ball chair that sits in a cradle and fits your body type. The cradle promotes foot controlled movement with the same mobility of a standard chair. This will reduce the risk of any unnatural reaching.

Next when first starting to use a ball chair only use it for only an hour or so for about a week. As time goes on you may increase your time sitting on the ball chair but be mindful to not over due it as it takes time to get your core up to speed. Notice if you find yourself slouching instead of sitting up straight. This is an indicator that your body is tired and needs to rest. 

I also would recommend that a ball chair is to be used as an alternative seated solution. Continue to use a standard office chair that will offer you resting support for part of the day. By giving your body multiple seated positions throughout the day is ergonomically good for you as we do not acquire any new bad habits by being in the same position all day long.

There are many opinions about the ergonomics of a ball chair and if it is really ergonomically good for you or not. I personally see the benefits and have experienced positive results from using a ball chair. I however will say that a ball chair is not for everyone and it should be a personal determination. Listen to your body and everything else take care of its self. The key is proper usage.

A worksite evaluation can help you determine if a ball chair would b a good solution for you.  Contact Ergonomic Evolution today to find out more.

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Taiwanese girl invents tofu-shaped breathing chair

A “breathing chair” designed by Yu-Ying Wu, a graduate from the Department of Industrial Design at the Taiwan-based Tatung University, was submitted to the international “red dot design award” design competition and won the home furniture design concept award. Wu is scheduled to receive the award next month in Singapore, according to the report by Taiwan-based United Daily News (UDN).

The hollow “breathing chair” is square The “breathing chair” is square when unoccupied The “breathing chair” can “transform” into an armchair suitable for sitting on The “breathing chair” becomes an armchair when a person sits on it. The “breathing chair” looks like a piece of white, square tofu. Wu said that the chair is made of high-density foam plastic that is 100 percent environmentally-friendly. There is a “trick” behind the design of various sizes of holes in the chair – based on professional calculation of the spatial structure, the tofu-shaped chair, coated with three layers of foamed plastic, can “automatically adjust” according to the weight and posture of the person sitting on it.

Chair buying Tips from Ergonomic Evolution

When people think of ergonomics, one of the first things that they think of is chairs. Chairs and ergonomics truly go hand-in-hand. Unfortunately, just about every office chair labels itself as “ergonomic,” and few of them actually are.

The first thing to note about these claims is that there is no standard for what can be labeled “ergonomic;” not yet anyway. Of course chair manufacturers use clever and often expensive marketing tactics to convince consumers that their chairs are “ergonomic.”  Using a term like “synchronized tilt function with a 2:1 ratio” simply means that for every 2 inches the back rest tilts back, the seat pan will only tilt 1 inch. Although it sounds impressive, what is the ergonomic benefit of that? Not much! When it comes to choosing a chair, here are some simple yet important guidelines.

1. Find a chair that will adjust to your body type. Most office chairs have general adjustments that are designed to fit 75% to 85% of people. However, if you are larger, taller, shorter or more petite than the “average” person, you are not one of those people and may need a chair designed especially for your body type.

2. Find a chair that allows for these two major functions: Forward tilt or forward rocking and foot-controlled movement. Forward tilt or rocking allows your hips to roll forward and your back to go into its natural “S curve” position, which creates natural lumbar support. Chairs with large lumbars can actually, over time, hurt you and your back because the chair is doing all the work, meaning that you potentially could develop some level of muscle weakness or atrophy. The chair also should provide you with foot-controlled movement. Natural balanced movement always includes the feet. When we move without first being in balance with the feet, we increase the risk of injury.

Also, it is important to note that the chair should not be too heavy. A heavy chair will not move with you easily and will force you to be out of balance.

3. Forget about finding the “perfect” position and staying in it all day. This idea is old school and actually the opposite is true. Instead, find a chair that will offer you a varitiy of sitting positions. Ergonomic Evolutions always tells its clients that “the best position is the next position.”

4. Take sufficient time when testing out a new chair. It’s funny how the first thing most people do when they sit in a chair is lean back like they are in a recliner. They play with the adjustments and after about 2 minutes, make a decision. That’s not long enough! You should work with vendor that allows you to demo the chair for a day or more. Your chair is an investment, something you will be using an average of 8 hours a day!

Along these same lines: Don’t lean back! Unless you sit with your feet up on the desk talking on the phone all day long, the leaning function is rarely needed or used. Chair manufactures know buying behaviors and specifically design chairs to be purchased in this manner.

Remember, a chair that is instantly comfortable is rarely a good ergonomic investment.

After you have chosen a chair, it is important that you are taught how to use the chair properly. A reputable vendor like Ergonomic Evolution will take the time to provide individual chair training (a free service from us!) so you are familiar with your new chair’s functions and adjustments, and also so that you have the opportunity to have any questions answered.

There are many, many good ergonomic chairs in the marketplace and we would be happy to help you find the one that’s right for you; contact us today. You also can check out the selection of chairs that we offer online at Ergonomic Evolution.

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The Evolution Chair – Your back will thank you!

The Evolution Chair as seen and endorsed on TV’s “The Doctors” People spend hours every day sitting on chairs; ironically, however, the human skeletal frame is not designed for chairs. Typical office chairs cause postural muscles to tire and the body to slump and slouch as the spine twists out of alignment. Postural muscles eventually weaken, leading to back pain and potentially putting you at risk for a back injury. The Evolution Chair is here to help!  This alternative seating solution does take some time to get used to, but once Ergonomic Evolution trains you on how to properly sit on it, you may never go back to sitting in a traditional chair again! This is a major improvement to regular ball chairs, first is it allows for foot controlled movement which will reduce the risk of improper reaching while in the seated position. Second, it’s height adjustable. If you are 5′-10″ or taller just add the supplied 2.5″ spacers and inflate the ball to the desirable diameter and there you have a ball chair that is customized just for you. No more guessing if the ball is the right size for your body. Contact us today to order yours! The cost is only $144.00 each! Click here to learn proper Evolution Chair usage tips! Don’t just sit there… Evolve!