Office chairs

With the office chair we differentiate between the movement promoting active office chair and the back friendly standard office chair. The standard office chair therefore belongs to the "healthy basic furnishing" that must not be missing in any office and which should fulfil at least the following criteria.

Performance ability and working conditions are directly associated!

Our health and performance ability highly depend on the good design and appropriate use of the office chair. For example body postures that are assumed for any reason have effects on our thinking and perceptual processes (cognition), such as for example the decision formation or our attitude, and of course also on the emotionality. The back friendly standard office chair therefore has intuitive operating elements with which the sitting height and depth can be easily adjusted to the individual requirements. Furthermore, manufacturers bring much healthy movement to workplace with their office chairs. Seat and backrest are equipped with a synchronous mechanism and automatically follow the movements of the body. The synchronous mechanism combines a backward movement of the backrest with a lowering of the sitting surface in the back area that is adjusted to it - meaning a change of the opening angle. This finally leads to more comfortable sitting in reclining posture.

Frau steht mit Telfon am Fenster im Büro

In addition all AGR tested standard office chairs have an effective downward suspension that ensures shock absorption when sitting down and thereby prevents spinal column compression. The sitting surface with integrated free-flowing, respectively forward adjustable seat inclination can also be individually adjusted in the depth. Height, width and depth adjustable armrests ensure relief of the shoulder and arm muscles (especially important with intensive work at the monitor). Also an individually or automatically adjustable backrest pressure, a balanced support through a high backrest and much more belongs to the basic equipment with a back friendly standard office chair.

Few but thereby helpful operating elements

A good office chair requires only a few but thereby functionally advantageous and well accessible operating elements. In combination with back friendly behaviour, e.g. frequent change of the working posture, this is an important prerequisite for health and performance ability at the office. The back friendly design of the entire workplace serves the employer and employee at the same time, which unfortunately is still not taken into account enough.

Ideal supplementation

A back friendly office chair alone is however not sufficient. The totality of the office workplace, meaning the environment, lighting conditions respectively illumination adapted to the work, the size of the office desk, arrangement of the screen etc. must be considered and adapted to each other. Combined standing seat workplaces or an additional high desk represent an ideal supplement.

Counter chairs in the counter area

If you work at an elevated workplace in the counter area, permanently standing is very stressful. Therefore for this area special counter chairs have been developed. They basically fulfil the same criteria as standard office chairs, but have a significantly higher sitting position and a foot ring for comfortable support of the feet. If the workplace cannot be left for a longer period of time, the use of a separate footrest is recommended. This allows you to vary the sitting position additionally. Tip: Even a perfectly adjusted office chair does not protect against back pain. Hence include movement breaks as wells as many posture changes as possible in your everyday office life.

Office chairs in 24-hour use

Office chairs that are used at 24-hour workplaces such as control rooms must fulfil especially high requirements. On the one hand they must support an upright sitting position, allow changing sitting positions and optimum visual contact (viewing monitors) and on the other hand promote the necessary specific performance ability. Which is why these chairs must always also have an adjustable nape support. In addition, quality and robustness are important. Because they must also be suitable for individuals with high bodyweight and for the use in three shift operation.

Sitting is the new smoking

More and more people spend most of their day sitting down. The number of computer workstations has been steadily increasing for decades, and sitting also dominates many people's everyday lives in their free time. This development is not without consequences: especially when combined with a lack of exercise, this one-sided posture can lead to painful back problems and, in the course of unfavourable metabolic conditions, to further degenerative diseases.

What's more, sitting for hours on end in a monotonous position means that the brain is not supplied with sufficient oxygen and important nutrients (hormones, proteins). Mental functions deteriorate, attention, concentration and performance noticeably decline, and productivity drops. No wonder headlines like these are becoming more common: ‘Sitting is the new smoking’, ‘Sitting is deadly’ or ‘Sitting makes you stupid’.

Orthopaedic specialists, movement scientists and ergonomists are therefore calling for more physical activity to be integrated into everyday (office) life. This means changing sitting positions more often, more dynamic sitting and standing, and more movement in the spaces available to us. A rule of thumb is: 50 per cent sitting, 25 per cent standing and 25 per cent moving. The result: more dynamic sitting, i.e. changing posture while sitting (no rigid sitting) and significantly less time spent sitting.

The right way to sit on an office chair

All the technical solutions in the world cannot help if they are not put to good use and the chair is not adjusted to the individual needs of the user. Please therefore make sure you are familiar with the possible settings provided by your office chair. The manufacturer's instructions for use will help you. Good manufacturers and good retailers even offer their customers personal instructions and training. If you sit incorrectly for long periods of time, bending over or in a twisted position, this will hamper your breathing and digestion. Sitting poorly can cause premature fatigue, circulatory disorders or indigestion and backache, resulting even in more serious musculoskeletal diseases.

Bürostuhl einstellen

1. Seat

Make full use of the seat surface of a classic office chair. Your back should be in direct contact with the backrest, and there should be about 3-4 finger widths of space between the back of your knees and the front edge of the seat. Otherwise, circulation problems may occur.

2. Seathight

Adjust the seat height so that your thighs rest comfortably on the seat and the angle between your lower and upper legs is slightly greater than 90 degrees. Your hips will then be slightly higher than your knees. This creates a slightly open angle (>90 degrees) between your torso and thighs.

3. Backrest

Adjust the backrest to suit your back. The height-adjustable backrest and height-adjustable lumbar support are designed to support the upper rear area of the pelvis (iliac crest).

4. Backrest pressure

The dynamics of the backrest (backrest pressure) are correctly adjusted when, after a short period of familiarisation, you are no longer consciously aware of its movement when leaning back.

5. Armrests

Armrests serve to enhance individual comfort and, where necessary, relieve strain on the shoulder and arm area and counteract tension. When correctly adjusted, the upper and lower arms form approximately a right angle. Some active office chairs deliberately do without armrests for ergonomic reasons. In this case, care must be taken to ensure that the table surface is adjusted so that the forearms can rest on it completely.

Power napping enhances performance and concentration

Some office chair concepts permit changing sitting positions right through to a lying position. These office chairs stand out with a very large opening angle that even permits a so-called relaxed position.

A few years ago, it would have been simply inconceivable to be lying down while working in the office. Not just because our office work would not have permitted this position but also because society simply didn't accept lying down as a possible position for working in the office. But today a lot can be down in a lying position with no great effort, using a mouse click, voice input or mobile touchscreens. It is not just the body that benefits from a lying position but also the mind as well. Findings from sleep research confirm for example that power napping while lying down demonstrably improves work performance and well-being. Those who integrate power napping in their life rhythm are verifiably more concentrated with faster responses and better performance levels as well as being more balanced, than those who prefer to manage without a horizontal intermezzo during the day.

Checklist for back-friendly office chairs

  • A synchronous adjustment of the sitting surface and backrest is important. These change the opening angle (angle between the sitting surface and the backrest) between both parts in a ratio that is in balance with the physiology. The rotation axis of the sitting surface must be as close as possible to the front edge of the seat so that it does not rise up when leaning back on the backrest.
  • The opening angle between the backrest and the sitting surface must be at least 110° under exertion of force and with sufficient stability.
  • The backrest must provide balanced support.
  • So that the natural shape of the spinal column also remains preserved when sitting the chair must have an individually adjustable lordosis support, the backrest must however at least have an anatomically shaped backrest.
  • The reclining pressure of the backrest must be individually adjustable or adjust automatically to the needs of different users. The user must have the feeling of having to overcome a resistance when leaning back (promotion of the muscle activity). This must be perceived as still being pleasant and not tiresome.
  • The backrest should be as high as possible so that the thoracic spine is relieved when leaning back (minimum height: 45 cm from the sitting surface up to the upper edge of the backrest in the lowest position).
  • Make sure that with permanent backrest contact the freedom of movement of the shoulder joints and arms is not impaired through the cushioning.
  • The anatomically shaped sitting surface is intended to ensure that one also does not slip out of the seat when leaning back. A correct pelvis position is thereby supported.
  • To accommodate to the different thigh lengths of the users an individually adjustable sitting surface depth is necessary, e.g. in the form of a sliding seat. Alternatively a nonadjustable sitting surface matching to the permanent user can be sufficient. Important: Between the knee joint and the front edge of the seat there should be a free space of 2-3 finger widths to ensure the circulation for the legs.
  • The sitting surface must be able to be inclined forward slightly.
  • The chair must have a shock absorber for the sitting surface – also in the lowest sitting position – to protect the spinal column against compression when sitting down (sitting depth suspension).
  • A good standard office chair must have a height adjustable seat
  • All operating elements must be easily understandable, easily accessible, functional, ergonomically designed and be easy to operate.
  • A good standard office chair must have height adjustable armrests - only in exceptional cases should these be dispensed with. They support back friendly sitting down, respectively standing up and partially relieve the shoulder girdle muscles. In addition to this it is an advantage if the armrests can be adjusted in the width and depth so that the lower arms can be comfortably rested on them. Swivelling armrests optimise the arm support with movements going beyond the width of the chair and with slightly spread arms in the work posture.
  • For the use in counter areas, a seat height adjustment of at least 75 cm is required. An easily height-adjustable foot ring ensures that the feet are comfortably supported or to put on the feet. A function that prevents the counter chair from unintended rolling away during the use is required for safety reasons. A separate footrest is recommended for longer periods of use at the workplace.
  • Sitting furniture that is used at 24-hour workplaces must fulfil very high requirements. The chair must support the spinal column, must allow changing sitting postures and optimal visual contact to the monitors and promote the necessary specific performance ability. Due to the activity (observation of the monitors) a height and inclination adjustable nape support, a high backrest (at least 58 cm) and a larger opening angle are necessary. In addition with 24 hour continuous use the chair must also be suitable for high body weights.

Minimum requirements

  • Synchronous adjustment of sitting surface and backrest
  • Opening angle (sitting surface/backrest) of at least 110° possible
  • Height adjustable armrests
  • Backrest offers balanced support
  • Lordosis support, respectively anatomically shaped backrest
  • Backrest pressure individually adjustable or automatic
  • Backrest height at least 45 cm
  • Freedom of movement for shoulder joints and arms also with backrest contact
  • Sitting surface anatomically shaped
  • Matching or adjustable sitting depth
  • Flowing or fixable seat inclination (at least –4°) forward possible (also helpful with 24-hour use chairs)
  • Sitting depth shock absorption
  • Adjustable in height
  • User-friendly operating elements
  • Climate friendly seat and backrest cushioning

Also appropriate

  • Functional armrests, additionally adjustable in width/depth as well as swivelling
  • Height and inclination adjustable head/nape support (should absolutely be present with a large opening angle)
  • Backrest for encouragement of the multi dimensional move ability of the spinal column

Additional minimum requirements for counter chairs

  • Seat height adjustment up to at least 75 cm
  • Height-adjustable foot ring
  • Roll-away lock

Supplementary minimum requirements for office chairs in 24-hour use

  • Height and inclination adjustable nape support according to anatomical conditions
  • Larger opening angle (of at least 125°)
  • Backrest height at least 58 cm
  • Also suitable for high bodyweight
  • Functional armrests, additionally adjustable in width/depth
  • Individually adjustable sitting depth
  • Durable cushioning materials

agr guetesiegel

Products with AGR seal of approval

Office chairs

Active office chairs

Office chairs

Dauphin

@Just

Syncro-Dynamic

sim-o

Stilo

Shape

Indeed

Tec

Sequel

Übersicht

Dauphin HumanDesign Group GmbH & Co. KG
Espanstraße 36
91238 Offenhausen
GERMANY
Phone +49 9158/17 700
Fax +49 9158/17 701
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.dauphin-group.com

Active office chairs

aeris GmbH
Hans-Stießberger-Straße 2a, 3. OG
85540 Haar b. München
GERMANY
Phone +49 89/90 05 06 0
Fax +49 89/90 39 39 1
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.aeris.de

TOPSTAR GmbH
Augsburger Str. 29
86863 Langenneufnach
Tel. 08239/789 0
Fax. 08239/789 240
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.topstar.de/en

Pictures & videos

36_Adjustement-of-office-chair1240

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