Best Office Chairs of 2024

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the “science of work,” says Gary Allread, program director of the ergonomics department at The Ohio State University Spine Research Institute. That definition doesn’t just apply to our jobs; ergonomic principles can be applied to virtually any activity (which means an ergonomic office chair won’t instantly cure your lower back pain). Allread and his team offer consultations for a variety of workplaces, including manufacturing facilities. They even provide input on product design to help companies better understand how to make products “to make sure they work with people in the best possible way,” Allread says.

Chair posture

A less-than-ideal work setup can cause pain in your back, arms, hands, or wrists. You may also find yourself fidgeting, making more mistakes, or taking more breaks, all because you’re uncomfortable, Allread warns. In the long run, you could develop tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.

Allread makes two key suggestions that we can all try to improve our practices:

• Sit with your back against the chair. (“You want the chair to do the work, not your back,” he says.)
• Support your feet. Place your feet on the floor or, if they don’t reach, use a box or other footrest to support your feet.

Lumbar support

If your chair doesn’t offer lumbar support, Allread recommends rolling up a towel, securing it with tape or rubber bands, and placing it on your lower back as a lumbar pillow to “keep your spine in its natural curvature.” Allread also notes that companies are introducing more chair sizes to accommodate a wider range of body sizes. This is an important consideration when shopping for a new ergonomic chair with the best seat height and seat depth.

“A mistake people make is they say, ‘Well, if I buy a great chair, I won’t have any more muscle pain,’ and that’s not really looking at the bigger picture of what it takes to keep people comfortable and productive at work,” Allread says. A new chair is just one of many things that can make your work environment more comfortable — so let’s keep that in mind as we weigh our options for the best one.