Ergonomic Office Chair Styles and Types

There are a lot of different kinds of office chairs available these days. While many offer a unique style, it's important to choose one that will provide the proper lumbar support in order to avoid office aches and pains by the end of the day. Another thing to look for when choosing an office chair is the ability to adjust it's height and arm height, as well as its ability to swivel and move easily around the room or cubicle because of casters.

Office chairs that swivel and have casters on the bottom are referred to as task chairs. They can accommodate many different heights and weights and are great for offices where different people may be sharing a desk or space.

Executive chairs are a higher-end option, and of course are more expensive. Although similar to task chairs in the way they can be adjusted and moved, they are a bit classier (and more comfortable), featuring additional padding and the ability to recline, unlike other less expensive models.

For those who are particularly tall or heavyset, there are bigger chairs available that resemble the executive's chair, but provide larger seats and taller backrests in order to accommodate the needs of big and tall consumer better.

Guest chairs, which are usually placed on either sides of the desk, are not necessarily used for workers who will be sitting in them all day, but those who come into an office for a quick meeting or conference. They usually do not feature casters or wheels and are not adjustable in any way.

Choosing the best chair for your office is very important if you want to remain comfortable and pain free even after working long hours. In addition to the basic office and executive chairs listed above, there are a variety of ergonomic versions that help workers from slouching forward and pushing the lower back out unnaturally.

When choosing a new office chair, be sure to find one with good lumbar back support that flushes against the small of the back. This will help keep your ears, shoulders, and pelvis (hips) in alignment and a natural inward curvature to the lower spine.

There are several different types of back supports now available in today's office chairs:

Ergonomic chair.
These are sculpted with a lumbar support curvature built into the chair that should rest on your lowers back.

Adjustable back support chair.
This option may be more efficient for some offices since this type of chair features a seatback that can be lowered or raised to better fit each individual user. Portable lumbar back support features a curved cushion or lumbar roll, fitted to the seat back of an office chair that can be manually placed to fit the proper areas of the lumbar region.