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An ergonomic chair, in essence, should be a chair that employs ergonomic principles in its design. Ergonomic principles are design factors that provide maximum comfort and protection against fatigue and discomfort caused by the stress suffered by the impact areas when a person is seated. An ergonomic chair should take several factors into consideration to ensure that it properly fits the person sitting on it in such a way as to protect the user's body from fatigue and stress even after sitting for extended periods of time. Here are the factors that an ergonomic chair should be able to meet.

First, an ergonomic chair should have the right dimensions and should also provide options for the users for better customization. These factors include the seat's height, width, and depth. For one, the height of the seat should be adjustable. Most ergonomic chairs use pneumatic levers for adjusting the seat height. Most of the time, the ideal height is 16 to 21 inches from the floor. At this seat height, the user's thighs are horizontal, his feet flat on the ground, and his arms lying on a right angle against the work table. As for the width of the seat, an ergonomic chair should be around 17-20 inches wide, which is a standard measurement. The depth should also be adjusted in a way that enables the user to rest his back comfortably while still within comfortable reach of the work table and with around two inches of space between the chair's seat and the back of the person's knees.

Second, an ergonomic chair is one that provides an ideal lumbar or lower back support. A person's lumbar spine curves inwardly, and this curve has to be supported especially when the person remains seated for a long period of time. If not, the curve might flatten, which usually leads to poor posture such as a natural slouched position as well as to structural strains on the lower region of the spine. An ergonomic chair, therefore, has to fit the lumbar curve.

Third, an ergonomic chair is one with a backrest. There are some ergonomically designed stools, but for a chair to be sufficiently ergonomic, it should allow the user to rest comfortably against the back rest. Ideally, the backrest should be as wide as 12 to 19 inches. There are seats with backrests that are separate from the seat itself. If this is the case, the backrest should at the very least still provide sufficient lumbar support. If the office chair has an attached backrest, on the other hand, the backrest should at least be adjustable forward and backward. If this is the case, the chair also requires a locking mechanism to make sure that the backrest stops where the user wants it.

Fourth, armrests are important parts of an ergonomic chair. The armrests of ideal ergonomic chairs should be adjustable. The user should be able to rest his arm comfortably and at an angle where the shoulders are also at ease. The ideal armrest provides slight support for the elbow and lower arms while a person is typing while the forearm has sufficient space for movement.

All these factors affect how a chair ergonomically fits the needs of the users. Some other minor factors may also be considered, such as the swivel as well as the seat material.

One of the most popular and best selling ergonomic chair is the Aeron chair by Herman Miller Inc.

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