The ergonomics of office furniture explained

The job of ergonomic office furniture is to reduce the amount of stress put on a worker’s body.

Ergonomics is a term with Greek roots. Coming from the word ergon, meaning work or labour and, nomos meaning natural laws.  The full word wasn’t actually coined until the mid 19th century by a Polish chap called Wojciech Jastrzebowski (he even had his research published).  His term didn’t really become widely known until his book was translated into English (not that long ago) in 1997.  

It does seem however, that a connection between work and health was well documented in ancient Greece and Egypt and much later by Italian physician Bernardino Ramazzini in the 17th century.  

So, what is ergonomics all about?
Well, simply put it’s how a space or in this case – furniture, is designed to maximise efficiency and comfort in a working environment.  Thankfully we have moved on from badly designed seating that fulfils the singular function with little regard for how comfortable the user might find the chair but what progressions have we made?  What has science and the study of ergonomics taught us about the way we spend a growing proportion of our lives?

You may have heard the phrase “sitting is the new smoking” credited to Dr. James Levine, but what does it mean?  Dr Levine believes that cancer, type 2 diabetes, back pain and many other health problems can be reduced by decreasing the amount of time we spend sitting. In the modern world where long hours spent at a computer is the norm, there are a few practical options that enable us to become better physically engaged and active in the workplace.

There are a growing number of options for more active seating and ways of varying working positions.  Chairs and stools that are designed to activate the body’s core muscles, keep you more engaged and more alert whilst sit-stand desks, give you the option of either position throughout the day. Coupled with this there are balance boards that you can stand on whilst at your sit-stand desk engaging core muscle groups.

Here is our list of some interesting active seating options.

1. Sit Stand Desk – These are adjustable desks which have push button controls so workers can choose their preferred desk height. They help to achieve an ergonomic working position which can alleviate some back aches and pains. Pictured below, Axel SitStand desk. 

2) Balance Ball Stool – Think large gym ball, the type you might see in a yoga studio, covered in fabric and 4 legs added to stop it rolling around the office. They look appealing and the thinking behind them is because there is no back they force you into an improved upright posture. Pictured below, stool from AJ Products

3) The Wobble Stool – This one is a little easier to grasp in terms of an idea. It is a fairly normal stool but with a curved base which again, coaches your posture to be that bit straighter.  No slouching using this one either.

4) Saddle Chair – This one is a bit more out there in terms of design.  As the name suggests it is designed a bit like a saddle you might see at home on the back of a horse.  The idea behind the saddle chair is that they allow you to sit higher increasing the angle between your hips and your knees. This is important because it means you are able to sit with your back following its natural curve. Good for shoulders, back and neck.

5) Pininfarina Xten Office Chair – Ok so this last one isn’t an active seating option but it is out there in terms of, well, cost.  Coming in at $1.5million (yes you read that right!) it’s about the most expensive thing you can find to sit and still call it an office chair.  You may have heard of Pininfarina if you’re into cars as they are better known for Ferraris and Alfa Romeos than office furniture but this still looks pretty amazing.

For the budget-conscious shopper, we recommend our EcoFlex range of office chair with prices starting from £315 + VAT.

When it comes to ergonomic furniture, the Sit Stand desk is our most popular item which we often recommend to clients who appreciate the benefits to staff engagement and retention. Wobble stools, anti-fatigue mats and saddle chairs are a great addition to coworking spaces and meeting room spaces. Every worker has different needs and we try to educate our clients on the options available to them whilst appreciating their budget.

Richard Thomson – Solutions 4 Office

If you’d like to discuss your home working setup – we’d be more than happy to jump on a call with you. Otherwise, please take a look at our ergonomic office chairs here.