If you spend a long time in an office chair, you’re probably well aware of the physical drawbacks. Sitting on office chairs for long periods, it’s likely that you’ve discovered a host of physical problems like back pain, neck pain, wrists, and arm pain.
Among all, back pain is one of the top issues for office workers with long sitting hours experience. So, their constant struggle to find the right office or gaming chair that suits their back well is justified.
But buying a new chair without knowing the reasons for discomfort in the present one shouldn’t be the case. For this very reason, we’ve written this article that’ll help you identify the causes of an uncomfortable office chair. So, read to the end and find out what’s problematic in your office chair.
Why are Most Chairs so Uncomfortable?
If you are uncomfortable in the office chair and facing health issues, then there are several factors that contribute to this discomfort. We should understand some factors that affect our experience sitting in an office chair. These factors are:
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Poor ergonomics
The ergonomic chair should have the correct height, tilt, and armrests according to your needs. If the chair is too high or because, for some reason, it is not adjustable to your desk height, then it will cause pressure on your neck and spine, resulting in pain. If there are no armrests, you’ll have to lean forward all the time to reach for something on your desk, or if you don’t want to lean forward, you need to use your arms.
This causes a lot of strain on your neck and back muscles, negatively affecting long-term sitting. Therefore, it’s extremely important to choose a chair that’s designed keeping ergonomics in mind. There are plenty of options in the market that you can choose from, but if you’re on a budget, you can find some of the best office chairs under 500 that are not only affordable but are also greatly designed.
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Inadequate size of chair
The backrest of the chair should adequately fit the person’s height. If you are 6′ tall and sitting in a chair that is not correctly adjusted, your feet will hang outside the front of the seat. The weight of your feet will pull down the lumbar region.
This can cause negative pressure under your spine resulting in knee, hip, lower back, and neck pain and discomfort. Similarly, if you are a healthy person and your chair is not according to your weight, sitting on a short or congested chair can affect the blood flow to your legs and feet, causing cramps and pain.
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Poorly designed structure
This is one of the significant factors affecting our chairs’ comfort. The seat should have adequate support to support your lower back and spine. If your chair doesn’t have enough support, it will flatten out at the lumbar region causing lower back pain.
The seat should provide an excellent lumbar curve, giving you good spinal alignment and proper blood flow. Sitting in a soft or neutral seat will cause muscle fatigue and cause pressure on your nerve roots, resulting in numbness in your legs and arms as they reach towards your desk or keyboard.
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Inadequate Cushioning System
The cushioned pads of your office chair should not be too thin or too soft. It should have enough cushioning to support your thighs, hips, and body weight. If the cushion is too soft, it will cause excess pressure on your lower back and spine, and if it is thin, it will cause pressure points.
The best chair needs softness with support. For example, anything with latex foam can provide the right amount of comfort and support to your body because they are pretty soft yet provide good support to your body weight.
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Poor Buying Decision
Most people make a wrong buying decision while purchasing their office chairs. They purchase a chair that looks good or has a good brand name without considering its ergonomic features. That’s not how the decision should bSo always make sure that you understand what your requirements are and what features you need in your new office chair before purchasing it.
Making an Uncomfortable Office Chair More Comfortable
A good and supportive office chair is the most important part of an office workstation. The comfort of your chair affects the performance of your work significantly. If you are uncomfortable with your chair, here are some solutions you can try.
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Angle correction
If the backrest of your chair is tilted too far forward, it will cause pressure on your lower back and result in pain or discomfort. You need to adjust the position of the tilt of your chair. Office chairs usually have an adjustable backrest. If your chair doesn’t have an adjustable backrest, try to adjust it to the correct angle so you can lean your back comfortably. In the same way, you can adjust your gaming chairs as well.
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Adjust the arm sets.
If you want to make your seat more comfortable, try adding armrests. Some office chairs come with built-in armrests. If your chair has no armrests and you want to add them, then see if they are compatible with your chair or order new ones separately. You can also use cushions and pillows for extra comfort and support.
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Change your sitting position.
If the chair is incompatible with your desk height, it will make it uncomfortable for you and affect your blood flow. This can result in pain in your feet and legs. Try to change your sitting position by leaning forward, backward, or sideways so that you’re comfortable with your chair.
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Add cushions.
If the seat of your chair is too hard or too thin, it will cause pressure on your thighs and hips, resulting in pain. A thick cushioning on the seat will solve this problem as it’ll give you support to your body weight so that there is no pressure on the buttocks and hips.
Thick cushioning can also increase the comfort of your chair significantly.
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Move Around
You should move around every 20 minutes to give your body a break from long hours of sitting. If you’re not moving, then it will hurt your legs and back. You can get up from your chair, walk around and slowly stretch yourself for a few minutes or try doing some exercises to make yourself comfortable.
Last Thoughts!
The bottom line is that picking out the right office chair is not a very easy task as many factors are to consider. So, it’s advised that before you purchase any office chair, you should always read all the specifications and details correctly.
Remember that an incorrect and uncomfortable office chair will only work against you in the long run, as it can lead to back pain and affect your whole-body posture. The above suggestion and recommendations will help you to find a suitable office chair efficiently.
