Why an Ergonomic Office Chair Is Essential: Easing Spinal Stress from Prolonged Work Sitting

Sitting in the same position for long hours at work puts unnecessary pressure on your spine. This is why having a suitable work chair is important.

If you spend more than six hours a day at your work desk, you might experience pain in your back, shoulders, or neck by the end of the day.

This could be a sign that you need to change the chair you use at work.

Dr. Jahnavi Acharya, a specialist physiotherapist at Restoration Bone and Joint Healing Centre in Mumbai, explains, "When you work in an office, you are likely to sit in the same chair for extended periods.

Regardless of the setting, staying in one position for too long is not good for your spine." An ergonomic chair is different from a regular chair. It is specifically designed to support the key parts of your body that are most prone to strain during work.

Here are some advantages of using ergonomic chairs at work, as shared by Dr. Jahnavi.

1. It supports your posture: 

Regular chairs can cause poor posture while sitting.

An ergonomic chair is designed with these issues in mind. It includes features like headrest and backrest that support your posture while sitting. You can also adjust the height so that your feet are flat on the floor, your knees are at a 90-degree angle to the floor, and your hips are parallel. These adjustments help you naturally improve your posture.

2. It is more comfortable: 

Ergonomic chairs are more comfortable than regular chairs as they are designed for user comfort.

You can adjust all the features to fit your needs until you feel completely at ease.

3.It reduces the risk of neck problems: 

Sitting without proper neck support for long periods can lead to stiffness in the neck and upper back, potentially causing issues like cervical spondylosis.

Ergonomic chairs have a headrest that supports your head and neck even when you lean back. This is especially useful for people who spend a lot of time talking on the phone at work.

4. It reduces the risk of back pain: 

Ergonomic chairs come with a backrest that supports the natural curve of your spine.

Unlike regular chairs, ergonomic chairs are tall enough to support your entire back. Some ergonomic chairs also have a reclining feature that allows you to lean back at an angle greater than 90 degrees.

5. It reduces pressure on your hips: 

Regular chairs have hard seating surfaces, which can place extra pressure on your hips.

Ergonomic chairs have a deeper seat (measuring 2 to 4 inches from the back of your knees) that supports your hips and buttocks.

6. It makes work easier: 

All the features of an ergonomic chair are adjustable to accommodate different tasks you may perform at your work desk.
 It also has a swivel feature that allows you to move around without having to stand up or stretch uncomfortably.

Dr. Jahnavi adds, "People should understand that ergonomic chairs are not a solution to all work-related health issues.

In addition to ergonomic adjustments at work, they should also be mindful of their sitting posture. Even with an ergonomic chair, if you keep your back slouched, you will still face various problems. Therefore, some amount of physical activity or exercise is important."