What Makes An Office Chair “Ergonomic”?

There really is no set definition of an ergonomic chair; it is really more of a concept. One definition of ergonomic is “designed to minimize physical effort and discomfort, and hence maximize efficiency”. Extending this to a chair, we can now look at what features then accomplish the goal of being ergonomic?

Seat Depth Adjustment

This is probably the hardest feature to find when searching for an office chair. Obviously not everyone is the same height or size so being able to adjust the seat depth to your leg length is important. One way to gauge this is that you should be able place your clenched fist between the edge of the chair’s seat pad and the back of your knee. The Herman Miller Aeron chair is available in three different sizes which are suitable for individuals anywhere from 4’10″ and 90lbs to 6’6″ and 270lbs.

Back Height Adjustment

Back height adjustment is important and good ergonomic office seating will enable you to adjust it to give good lower back support. Some chairs such as the Herman Miller Aeron Loaded chair also come with adjustable ergonomic lumbar supports which provide an additional degree of flexibility.

Arm Height Adjustment

Not all office chairs have arms but they are generally a good idea as they can help prevent or minimize repetitive stress injury. The chair arm height should be set up such that your lower arms are level with your desktop.

Pneumatic Seat Height Adjustment

Most modern office chairs offer this feature. Ensure that your feet are firmly planted on the floor and that your upper legs are angled slightly downwards.

Adjustable Tilt Tension

What you need to be aware of here is that the tension in your chair should be adjustable based on your weight. For example the Kinemat Knee Tilt Tension feature found on the Herman Miller Aeron Basic chair when properly adjusted allows you to lean back comfortably in your chair using your body’s weight to do the work for you.

While not exhaustive these five criteria describe the major factors that determine if a chair is “ergonomic”.