The Best Ergonomic Chair in the Philippines

Your Ultimate Guide to Ergonomic Office Chairs

More and more people are starting to pay more attention to ergonomics — especially since a lot are now suffering the aches and pains that are consequences of poor posture and unsupported working dynamics. 

Proper ergonomics is not a trend, but an absolute necessity for both your work productivity and overall health and wellness. Everyone, whether working from home or in an office, should invest in the best ergonomic equipment that will encourage the right position and posture while working. 

If you’re looking to begin your pain-free working sessions and transition to a healthier working lifestyle, start with an ergonomic chair. Your office chair is the culprit behind most of the back, neck, and shoulder pain or discomfort you’re feeling. These could potentially lead to more serious conditions if not addressed immediately. 

To help alleviate those and create a healthier working dynamic, here’s your ultimate guide to ergonomic office chairs and our top picks for the best ergonomic chairs you can invest in. 

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At a Glance: Our Top Picks for the Best Ergonomic Office Chair

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What is an Ergonomic Chair?

Many people assume that office chairs in general are ergonomic. While they are designed to adjust to different body dimensions, office chairs are only considered ergonomic when they suit a specific worker in terms of size, the type of workstation and performed tasks.

Thus, an ergonomic chair is a seat tailored for a desk worker or gamer, with varying supporting features to suit specific kinds of needs. For example, an ergonomic dentist chair consists of features that may not be found on an ergonomic computer worker’s chair.

Additionally, an ergonomic chair conforms to the user’s shape, supports the spine and other bones, as well as keeps joints and tissue in a neutral position.

Components of an Ergonomic Chair

What exactly makes an office chair ergonomic? Here are the five main features, along with optional ones, of a good ergonomic chair:

Seat Height Range

An ergonomic chair can adjust to a wide range of heights, from tall to short. This is crucial because proper work posture would require you to sit in an upright position with your body straight and your shoulders falling naturally. 

With an adjustable office chair that suits your height range, you can set the best height that enables your body to maintain the right posture to prevent shoulder, neck, upper, lower, or mid back pain. 

Usually, adjustability is as easy and comfortable as pushing a lever at the bottom of the chair. Some office chairs even have automatic reclines that are sensitive to your weight, so they fall back naturally without you having to lift a finger to adjust the height.

Seat Pan Depth Adjustment

Conventional office chairs would have a flat seat. But this was revealed to take a toll on the blood flow to your knees and feet. An ergonomic office chair would have a more fluid build quality for the seat pan, usually sliding in the front edge so that your legs fall naturally and your back is comfortably resting on the high back of the chair. 

A seat pan with a waterfall front edge makes ergonomic chairs more comfortable for users with long or short legs, maintaining a steady and healthy blood flow and providing the best leg comfort. 

Backrest Adjustment

Ample back and lumbar support is crucial when sitting. And if you’ve been experiencing aches and pains while working, it’s evident that your office chair doesn’t have enough lumbar support. 

Ergonomic chairs usually have a backrest that resembles the shape of your spine so that while you sit, your spine is promoted to maintain its natural curve. The high back support should also adjust to suit your body dimensions. Most ergonomic chairs also feature angle adjustments that help alleviate stress on your spine. 

Armrest Adjustment

An ergonomic chair would have adjustable arms suitable for a wide range of arm dimensions. Because your shoulders need to fall naturally while you’re sitting, a good office chair would provide you the luxury of setting the height of the armrests according to what suits your comfort and preference. 

Chairs with armrests can be more beneficial for those who spend most of the day typing on a computer. Proper ergonomics would require that your elbows are resting in a supportive armrest, so this is a good feature to find in office chairs.

Headrest Adjustment (Optional)

Similar to a car seat, an ergonomic chair’s headrest adjusts to varying neck lengths for customized support. It’s best if the chair comes with an adjustable headrest or head cushion that cradles your head and neck to prevent you from tilting your neck or leaning too close to your computer screen. 

Casters or Wheels (Optional)

A good office chair allows you to move freely so you can easily roll between stations or different parts of a single workstation. Casters give you freedom of movement and prevent you from staying in the same position for long hours, helping your body relieve strain.

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Benefits of an Ergonomic Chair

Ergonomic office seating offers a number of benefits for employees and companies at large, but let’s take a closer look at the advantages of chairs for desk workers.

It improves your body posture

With your shoulders directly above your hips, the backrest (and adjustable headrest, if included in the chair) reduces lower and upper back, hip and neck pain and strain. Additionally, no stiffness in your neck, shoulders or back means less risk of complications like cervical spondylosis, since your spine is protected and promoted to maintain its natural curve.

Having the right ergonomic equipment, especially chairs, can be what prevents you from serious injuries like repetitive stress injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, severe neck and back pain, etc. 

It promotes blood circulation

Do you ever feel numb in your knees and feet from sitting down on chairs for too long? This happens when you don’t receive enough blood flow to your legs, caused by non-supportive office chairs. A good ergonomic chair would usually have a slanted seat pan or waterfall front edge to encourage the best blood flow and circulation around your legs while you sit.

Your stress decreases and productivity increases

More comfort means less physical pains distracting you from completing your tasks. Plus, less risk of injuries and complications from bad seated body posture means less chances of calling in sick.

Most of the pains we feel throughout the day are the culprits of our decrease in productivity. Most of the time, we feel tired and exhausted. But really, we’re not. Instead, we’re fatigued because of the aches and pains that are caused by poor posture, bad chairs, and the lack of an ergonomically optimized workspace.

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How to Use an Ergonomic Chair

Using an ergonomic chair is not as straightforward as simply plopping on an office chair. For the best and maximum benefits, here are tips for sitting on ergonomic chairs correctly.

Push your hips back onto the chair

Your hips must move back as far as possible in the chair in order to see what kind of adjustments need to be made in other parts of the chair. Lean back to see if you need to change the seat height, headrest, armrest, etc.

Remember that no part of your body should be under too much pressure or strain. Should you feel that there’s tension in a certain part of your body, adjust the features of the chairs accordingly. 

Adjust the seat pan depth

Slide the seat pan further or closer according to your leg length. Make sure you can fit a closed fist between the back of your knees and the front edge of the chair. It’s also best if your feet are flat on the floor to prevent lower back and leg pain. 

The last thing you want is for your feet to be dangling because of a wrong seat pan depth. This can put so much pressure on your legs and thighs, halting the proper circulation of blood. At all times, your feet should be planted on the ground.

The best thing you can do is to opt for chairs with a waterfall front edge that is slanted in the corner so that your legs are relieved of pressure. 

Unlock the backrest angle adjustment

It’s best not to lock the seat so that it’s at a fixed angle. Seat and back adjustability of chairs allow for easy immediate adjustment as you’re stretching or moving your back slightly forward, keeping you supported in various sitting positions. Shifting postures ensures you never put too much pressure on your spine for a long period of time, so it’s best to limit your use of the tilt lock feature found in many office chairs.

To get the most movement out of your chairs, it’s best to opt for chairs with a reclining mechanism that moves with your body as you change postures. This will help ensure that no matter how much you move, your body is at no point in time unsupported.

Adjust your armrest so your arms create an “L” shape

Increase or decrease the arm height of your armrest so that you can rest your arms comfortably with your shoulders relaxed. The elbows should bend at a 90-degree angle.

Make sure your feet rest on the ground comfortably

As you sit on the office chair, your feet should rest flat on the floor without any pressure. That requires adjusting the seat height so your knees are slightly above your hips. This supports blood flow in your legs.

Make sure your seat is the right height for your desk

A height-adjustable executive chair is most preferred and recommended because this allows people to adjust the chairs to suit the height of their desk. Ideally, they should be so balanced that your shoulders are resting comfortably as you type on your computer or work on your desk.

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What to Look for in an Ergonomic Chair

While office chairs that are ergonomic do offer more support compared to conventional office furniture, not one single office chair will cater to everyone’s needs. When looking for the best office chair for you, here’s a laundry list of questions to ask yourself:

• What kind of support are you looking for? Do you have any health issues that require a particular type of chair? Do you need a headrest?
• Does the office chair suit your body dimensions and weight? Can you adjust the chair to suit your height and size so that you aren’t straining any parts of your body?
• What is your budget for an ergonomic chair? Have you considered the cost and price point for maintenance and repairs?
• Is the office chair suited for your desk in terms of height and depth? Do you need to make any other workstation adjustments in addition to the chair?
• Do you need an office chair with wheels or casters? Will the wheels disrupt your work? Are the wheels/legs suitable for your office flooring?
• Does the chair suit your profession? Does the chair offer the support you need for the amount of time spent working while seated and the type of work you do? Do you need adjustable arms rests (if you are a computer worker)?
• Do you need heavy duty office chairs (200kg) in the Philippines?

The perfect ergonomic chair for you would depend on your preferences and needs. It’s not a one size fits all kind of thing. So it’s very important to ask yourself what you need and the type of work that you do. These will all come into play in helping you select either a conventional chair or an executive chair that’s perfect for you. 

But some basic features that you need to find are:

• Should be height adjustable
• Should have a good backrest that can prevent lower back pain
• It must have the weight capacity that suits your measurements
• It should have a feature that prevents neck pain
• If you need armrests, they should be height adjustable and lined with soft memory foam cushion

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Are Ergonomic Chairs Worth It?

Yes, an ergo office chair is absolutely worth it to help us keep the proper posture and position while working. Otherwise, you run the risk of developing serious injuries and illnesses that could be hard or impossible to cure. And all because of the lack of proper ergonomics in your workspace. 

Our bodies were not meant to sit down for long periods. But because times have changed and the increasing demands of office and desk work, we need to ensure that our health is in our top priority. And this all starts with learning about proper ergonomics and making the investment in ergonomic equipment, especially an ergo chair.

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Final Note

Proper ergonomics starts with having the right office chairs. By now, you probably already know that a rocking chair, dining chairs, or your zero backrest living room chairs will simply not do for working. It is crucial that you find the perfect chairs for your needs and preferences to keep you healthy and productive. 

There are so many brands today promoting themselves as “ergonomic” and selling chairs with the best ergonomic features, but more often than not, they don’t promote the right posture that will help prevent aches and pains. So you have to be wary in choosing the right office chair for you. Keep our pointers in mind to help you make a smart and informed decision as to the type of chairs that you need to consider. 

As far as ergonomic chairs go, these 11 best ergonomic office chairs offer the best features when it comes to proper sitting posture, head and back support, arm positioning, and movement. Weight the pros and cons, use our tips, find the best office chair, and say hello to a more comfortable, pain-free, and healthy working dynamic.