What Ergonomic Chair Functions and Features Do – Part 2

By now, most people are familiar with the term “Ergonomics” and understand that ergonomic furniture is more healthy for the body because it helps to maintain more natural positions that reduce stress to the bones, muscles, and nerves throughout the body. But chair companies and ergonomists often throw around terms related to the designs and functions of ergonomic chairs that the common consumer may not understand. Here is a list of some terms you may need to know.

Backrest Angle Adjustability: This function allows the user to change the angle of the backrest relative to the angle of the seat. The most common way to adjust the backrest is through and adjustment mechanism, however, it can also be adjusted through flexing materials or springs in the shell of the chair. Backrest angle adjustability enables the chair to support different degrees of recline for the body, which in turn transfers some upper-body weight to the chair backrest and relieves the lower back’s intervertebral discs. This function also increases the angle between the torso and the thighs, which causes the lower back to curve inward. This inward curve in the back also relieves pressure on the disc.

Chair Recline or Tilt: This is a similar function to the Backrest angle adjustors, but not the same. Chair recline or tilt changes the angle of the entire chair seat relative to the floor. There are a couple of ways that this function can work. One is a column tilt, which pivots the chair at the top of the base post and lifts the knees slightly while the back descends. The second is called a knee tilt, where the pivot point is forward of the post, closer to the knees. In a knee tilt chair, the knee lift is negligible, but the back descend more than in a column tilt chair.

Author Amy Pedersen has worked in the ergonomics and office industry for a number of years and is currently co-founder of Sit On This Ergonomics, operating a number of ergonomic websites dedicated to office chairs and the practice of good workplace ergonomics. Featuring a wide variety of executive, leather, mesh and task office chairs with an online sales catalog, their website also provides detailed ergonomic information on proper chair positioning and seating in the workplace environment.

Sit On This Ergonomics:
http://stores.ebay.com/sitonthisergonomics

More Ergonomic Info:
http://stores.ebay.com/Sit-On-This-Ergonomics/Ergonomic-Positioning-Explained.html