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Tips for choosing a desk chair based on height and weight
No matter how much advice we get, when it comes to shopping we often let ourselves be carried away too much by impulse. It is very pretty, it is too cheap or, simply, you had love at first sight. However, when it comes to buying, for example, quality ergonomic furniture, not just anything will do, even less so if you are someone who has to spend hours and hours sitting down for work or leisure. Why? Because it may happen that you cannot get it to adapt to everything you need.
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This happens many times because, obviously, we are all human and different, each with undeniable physical qualities that set us apart from others. This is also noticeable when choosing products such as chairs or desks, where your height and weight have a lot to say when it comes to feeling comfortable.
Because yes, both variables influence whether, in the long run, you may or may not have back problems, poor circulation or various conditions that negatively affect your work and your life.
How to choose an office or desk chair?
As we mentioned, the life of those who work from home or in the office, and even of those who study, is practically tied to a desk chair, one way or another. If we stop to think about it, we do not only remain seated for long periods of time in the office. Also at home, at school, or to watch online classes, we also spend time sitting while we watch television, look at content on social media, or in the car when we travel from one place to another.
Just as we choose a bed with a mattress that helps us rest and sleep better, we need a comfortable chair that is appropriate for our workload. A desk chair will be comfortable to the extent that it is ergonomic, but we will talk about that later. For now, let us focus on the aspects that will help us feel comfort and safety. Make sure your back rests without problems against the backrest. And that at no point does it tense forward or backward, because this can mean long-term problems.
The supports of your desk chair
Lumbar and cervical cushion, armrests, headrest and footrest, the fail-safe features that improve the work experience. And that also ensure the safety and health of workers. There are affordable chairs that come with the main tools to take care of our body and improve postural habits. It is hard for a desk chair to be comfortable and safe if it tenses our muscles and neglects the points that need attention, such as the neck or the back. Lumbar support is essential, and you should feel that your back stays well supported and cradled while you use your desk chair.
Prefer breathable upholstery
Most people hate sweating, especially in public spaces where it is hard to cool down. Heat is pleasant when we are at the beach or the pool enjoying ourselves with a group of friends, but not while you are wearing lots of layers of clothing in the office. Therefore, feeling sticky is not a pleasant experience. So the desk chair must be upholstered with a breathable mesh or fibre that does not retain odours and helps us feel fresh throughout the working day. This will help us be able to stay in the desk chair for a long time without feeling discomfort due to sweating and heat.
Pay attention to the seat and backrest: padded desk chair
The backrest must embrace the back and allow freedom of movement. Since keeping the back muscles tense can lead to severe problems, even if a “good” position is maintained. The seat of your desk chair must have the perfect composition, a balance between firmness and softness, so that the buttocks and legs do not fill up with tension. That is why foams are important, since they will help us be comfortable. A high-quality foam will not deform and will stay in place much longer.
Comfortable postures
Each person has a unique posture or way of sitting. But being comfortable does not mean it is appropriate or healthy. Additionally, the proportions and alignment of the body is another personal factor we should consider before buying a desk chair. To reinforce the ergonomic principles of your chair, we recommend that you rotate the position in which you sit. It is important that you work a little while standing, and every now and then take a walk, in order to avoid problems or ailments. Nowadays there are desks that can be raised to vary our posture between standing and sitting. In any case, review your posture from time to time. It is important to make sure we are taking care of our back.
What should you keep in mind to choose an ergonomic or gaming chair based on your height and weight?
The first thing you should do is measure your height. This is essential, because one of the keys to having a quality chair is that it fits your measurements perfectly. In this post about office chair dimensions you can get an idea of what the standard measurements are.
The same happens with weight: knowing your approximate weight will allow you to find ergonomic and gaming chairs completely adapted to you and your needs.
Once you know how tall you are and how much you weigh, in all the chairs you look at you will have to check these three variables:
- 1. The seat depth
- 2. The height and width of the backrest
- 3. The weight the chair can support
1. The seat depth is key to supporting your back
Indeed, a shallow seat will make you strain your knees more, while a seat with too much depth will cause two things: that your feet dangle or that you have to hunch backward to rest fully. And obviously neither of the two options is healthy.
This variable is usually standard in most ergonomic chairs, with between 30 and 40 cm wide being what you will most commonly find.
What you have to make sure of is that, once you sit down, you can rest your back completely against the backrest, you have approximately between 5 and 10 cm of space between your knees and the seat and your feet are completely resting on the floor.
Premium chairs usually allow the seat depth to be adjusted, so make sure the settings are suitable for you.
2. The height and width of the backrest determine the support of your cervical and lumbar areas
Another of the most punished areas of the body when we are seated are the cervical and lumbar areas. We tend to always be hunched forward, even more so if the support we have behind us is nonexistent or uncomfortable for us, which seriously harms your lumbar area and neck. This is where your height will be decisive. A chair for a child is not the same as one for an adult, just as a chair for small people is not the same as one for large people. Importantly, keep in mind that these measurements are approximate and, moreover, many chairs are adjustable, so they are not exclusive to a specific weight or measurement but can adapt to each user's build.
- - For people who measure less than 1.60 metres, the backrest should be between 50 and 60 cm high. In children it is particularly important because it directly affects their developing postural hygiene.
- - For those who measure between 1.60 and 1.75 metres, a chair between 60 cm and 75 cm is more suitable.
- - For those who measure between 1.75 and 1.80 metres, the ideal measurement is between 75 and 80 cm.
- - Finally, for those who exceed 1.85 it is advisable to look for alternatives with backrests from 85 cm.
In this way, the cervical area remains completely supported, as does the lumbar area. In this sense, both gaming chairs and ergonomic ones usually have a lumbar cushion, also adjustable, so that you can accommodate it to yourself at the moment of use. One thing to keep in mind is that the width of the backrest is also important. Otherwise, a very burly person may feel trapped, while a small person will feel "sunken" and will not be able to rest their arms well. The standard is between 35 and 50 cm wide and, in cases where the backrest and seat are separated, the backrest should be adjustable in height and angle.
3. Pay close attention to the maximum weight the ergonomic or gaming chair can withstand
In all the models of ergonomic chairs and gaming chairs the weight they can withstand is specified in the features. In some cases, they can withstand 120 kg of weight, but there are models that easily support 150 kg.
This is important, because if we exceed the weight limit the chair can withstand we will cause it to gradually "give way" and sag downward, which will not allow you to have correct support of your knees in relation to the rest of the body, in addition to possible falls or accidents that can easily be avoided.
And now that you know all the tricks, visit us at our Officechair365 website and follow these steps to choose the best ergonomic chair orgaming one for you based on your height and weight. We are waiting for you!
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