Ergonomic office chair
definition
The term ergonomic desk chair is not protected, which is why there is no uniform definition of what properties an ergonomic desk chair must have. However, the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has one Guideline worked out which recommendations apply to an ergonomic desk chair. Especially should be on a safe footing, a adequate suspension, the height adjustment, the backrest and armrests are respected.
Who needs an ergonomic office chair?
Many people spend a large part of their everyday life at their desk in an office chair. Be it at work or at home, many people often sit in an office chair for long hours. Basically, all people should know which regularly Sitting on an office chair, thinking about whether your office chair is ergonomically designed. Employers are obliged to set up a workplace that corresponds to the "state of the art", but different employers interpret this very differently. An improvement in the workplace by replacing the office chair is therefore often necessary in order to be able to avoid orthopedic secondary diseases. Even with a few hours a day it can be worthwhile to switch to an ergonomic model to prevent illness and tension.
If there are already symptoms or if the orthopedic consequences of the unfavorable sitting posture have already manifested themselves, you should switch to an ergonomic office chair as soon as possible. Diseases that are not exclusively caused by an inadequate office chair, but are often favored in their development Herniated discs, Pelvic vein thrombosis, a Lymphatic congestion or skeletal diseases The spine. In these cases, an ergonomic office chair can be used to heal and rehabilitate the illnesses and to prevent relapse.
In some cases, however, it is not necessary to buy a new, ergonomic office chair. This is the case when a sufficiently ergonomic chair is already available. Even if symptoms arise, you should first check whether the attitude of the office chair can be changed or the Sitting posture on the chair should be improved to ensure ergonomic support. An occupational physician (company doctor) can often provide information on the part of the employer.
The following topic may also be of interest to you: Exercise examples for loosening up and relaxing while sitting at the desk
properties
There is no official definition of what properties an office chair must have in order to be called ergonomic. In theory, every manufacturer can describe an office chair as ergonomic. The following properties relate to the guideline of Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and occupational medicine.
It is important that the ergonomic office chair for sure stands. Tipping or slipping should be avoided, even if the backrest is tilted all the way back. There are both models with braked and unrestrained Roll. Unbraked castors should only be used on carpets, while braked castors can prevent slipping on a smooth surface. A sufficient suspension of the chair. This helps to protect the spine, especially when you sit down frequently. To prevent injuries, all edges should be rounded and the seat and backrest should have adequate upholstery. It is important to ensure that the upholstery is comfortable but not too soft.
The height of the office chair is an important ergonomic property. Since not all people are the same height, the office chair should be adjustable in a range of 42 to 50 cm measured from the floor to the seat. The same applies to the length of the seat, which should be adjustable between 38 to 44 cm. A reasonable width of the seat is at least 40cm.
The backrest is one of the most important features of the ergonomic office chair. In order to be both comfortable and orthopedically ergonomic, the backrest must have two characteristic curves. Viewed from the side, there should be a rounding in the area of the Lumbar spine stand out in front. Depending on the length of the backrest, there can also be an “S” or “double S” shape. At the same time, the back should be surrounded by the backrest, i.e. the surface should be slightly round and not flat. The backrest must be adjustable in order to be able to adapt to the proportions of the user. It is ideal if the backrest has a coupled seat-backrest inclination adjustment. This means that the backrest at different Inclination angle backwards can always optimally support the spine.
Also belong Armrests to an optimal office chair. These can relieve the shoulder area and should be adjustable in height.
conditions
There are no specific requirements to be able to sell an office chair as ergonomic. It is therefore important to use the recommended properties as a guide when choosing an office chair. The most important and decisive requirement for an office chair in terms of ergonomics is that it can be adjusted.
Since the proportions are different for each person, an office chair without adjustments to the backrest, seat height, armrest and seat length can only fit perfectly in very few cases. In general, if the features listed under "Properties" are taken into account when choosing an office chair, the most important requirements for an office chair are met.
Temperatures rise and performance decreases? Many workers wonder what rights they have in this situation. Read more about this under: Heat-free in the office
Different shapes
There are a number of different office chairs that are sold as "ergonomic". Which type of chair is actually ergonomic depends not only on the individual body proportions but also on the adjustability of the chair. One form is not superior to another, but can through try out find out which shape suits your own physique best.
Common office chair shapes that can be considered ergonomic are chairs with a long backrest, armrests and a separate headboard. Instead of a separate headrest, there is sometimes an elongated backrest. Office chairs with a split back are also often included in the category "Ergonomic" to find.
The backless chairs are also often sold as ergonomic office chairs. It must be noted that according to the criteria listed under "Properties", strictly speaking, these chairs do not fall under ergonomic. The same applies to the stools, which enable standing work and only allow “leaning”. Here, too, are important properties of ergonomics Not Fulfills.
Support from the health insurance company
Working long hours at a desk can lead to health problems. Back pain in the lumbar vertebrae is not uncommon, especially when the body remains in an unfavorable posture for a long time. An ergonomic office chair can help with that Bad posture to correct at work or at home and thus provide health healing. Even after an acute illness of the spine, it may be necessary to use an ergonomic office chair in order not to jeopardize the healing success.
The question of whether an ergonomic office chair will be covered by health insurance is therefore obvious. And indeed it can become one partially or entire cost assumption come through the health insurance companies. Since the health insurances do not have a common regulation regarding the assumption of these costs, it is often worth asking the health insurance company or the treating doctor.
A prerequisite for the assumption of costs is often that the treating family doctor or orthopedic surgeon has a decision about the recommendation the use of an ergonomic office chair and explains why the use of the office chair is relevant to health in a special case. If there are health problems and it is suspected that an ergonomic office chair could provide a remedy, action should be taken as soon as possible so that there are no health consequences.
Support from the employer
There is no uniform regulation or a law on whether the employer must provide employees with an ergonomic office chair. The law only stipulates that a job which is "current state of the art“Must be provided. If an ergonomic office chair is needed for health reasons, a must Request with the health insurance or pension insurance, which has the need the measure can decide.
Sometimes, however, it is worthwhile to talk to the employer about the equipment in the workplace. A purchase of ergonomic office chairs can improve the health of the employees and the climate during work immensely and is therefore an option for the employer without the insurance carrier assuming the costs economically as well as employee-friendly to act.
If the insurance company only pays part of the cost of purchasing an ergonomic office chair, it can be worthwhile to ask the employer whether they will pay for the additional costs.
With stand-up aid
In addition to the usual office chairs, there are also those that are equipped with an integrated stand-up aid. These chairs have a foldable seat cushion that is supported by hydraulics. These special office chairs are particularly suitable for diseases that are associated with muscular or nervous degeneration, i.e. getting up from a normal office chair hardly possible anymore is. Examples are the progressive muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis. Total or partial coverage by the insurance company is possible, depending on the clinical picture.
Without a back
Chairs or stools that are sold without a backrest should be the body's own while working Muscle strength promote. According to the current guideline of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, such a seat does not fall under the category of “ergonomic office chair”.
A backrest should not be dispensed with, especially for long and constant office work. Particular attention should be paid to the ergonomic properties of the backrest. People who carry out activities that frequently move and sit for only short time but can benefit from the office chairs without backrests.
Desk with adjustable height
In addition to the ergonomic office chair, other measures should be created at the workplace to ensure ergonomic work. This includes above all one height adjustable Writing desk. So it can be that, depending on the body size of the person concerned, the desk chair is very ergonomic, but the desk is clearly too low or high in the optimal sitting position. This can lead to poor posture of the back or neck and thus potentially to poor posture despite the optimal seating due to the ergonomic office chair Diseases the spine and chronic Back pain.
There are a number of different models. It should be noted whether only a sitting position or a standing working posture should be achieved through the height adjustment. Both models with a mechanical as well as models with electrical Settings are available.
The insurance carriers can under certain circumstances also pay for a certain part of the purchase of a height-adjustable desk. As with the purchase of the office chair, this is often a Write of the doctor about the health relevance necessary in individual cases.
