Avoid back pain in the office - this is how you choose the right office chair
In 2021, the average weekly working hours for employees in Germany were just under 35 hours – almost 60 percent of all employees perform their work while sitting. This often leads to health consequences such as tension, back pain, and fatigue due to poor posture.
For this reason, choosing the right office chair is a task you must take into your own hands. Many employers only provide poor equipment, which unnecessarily strains your body. In this Deskspace blog, we will therefore look at how to find the right office chair and why a height-adjustable desk can be a good idea.
Risks of incorrect sitting – why you need the right office chair
Before we help you choose the right office chair, let's first look at the causes of back pain in the office. Although these are very diverse, there are some reasons for problems that stand out in the statistics. Almost 60 percent of all employees report having suffered from back pain in the last twelve months. In addition, at 5.8 percent, they are the second most common single cause of days of incapacity to work.
At a classic desk workstation, these are some of the risks for back problems:
- Unhealthy/incorrect posture
- Incorrectly adjusted desk or chair
- Poor office equipment, such as old chairs
- Monitor positioned too low
- One-sided strain of any kind
All these factors can quickly lead to back pain in the office, which could then become chronic. By using the right office chair and correctly adjusting your entire workstation, you can prevent these health risks, which also affect your private life. In the following paragraphs, we will look at what a good office chair should offer.
Did you know: At Deskspace, we have made it our mission to make ergonomic office equipment accessible and affordable for every employee in Germany. In our online shop, you will find ergonomic sit-stand stools, height-adjustable desks, and blog articles on healthy working. Feel free to stop by!
How to choose the right office chair – to combat back pain in the office
In this section, we will show you what to look for in a good office chair to prevent back pain in the office later on. We distinguish between two main types of chairs: the classic swivel chair with a backrest and an ergonomic sit-stand stool like the Deskspace Motion.
The "old-fashioned" office chair – what to look for
You will still find it in most offices in Germany. The old-fashioned office chair has a backrest, armrests, and wheels on its feet so you can get up more easily. When buying such an office chair, you should pay attention to a few things to ensure it meets ergonomic requirements.
- Backrest – the backrest of the right office chair should not be too yielding, but also not too stiff. It should also be made of a breathable material so that you don't sweat too much even on hot days
- Armrests – the armrests should ideally not be made of hard plastic, as otherwise your arms will quickly sweat. They should also be adjustable in height and, ideally, in width
- Seat – the seat of your office chair should be deep and wide enough. Check if there is about two to three finger-widths of space between the back of your knee and the seat surface
- Lumbar support – lumbar support is recommended if you have difficulty maintaining an upright posture at work. It supports your spine
- Headrest – the headrest should be adjustable in height and depth so that your neck maintains a straight posture when working at the desk
However, the old-fashioned office chair is no longer what we would recommend for a modern office. It supports your body too much and ensures that minor poor postures are compensated for, but unfortunately not by the body itself. Therefore, it can still happen that you suffer from back pain in the office due to incorrect posture. That's why we recommend the ergonomic sit-stand stool from Deskspace, which we will introduce to you in the next section.
The ergonomic sit-stand stool – the solution to back pain in the office
This section deals with the most modern solution for seating in the office, the ergonomic sit-stand stool. It combines the benefits of sitting and standing and ensures that your body is constantly in motion without you even noticing.
The Deskspace Motion consists of a seat and a rubberized base plate, which makes the stool non-slip. The stem moves slightly, ensuring continuous micro-movements. Since there is no backrest, you automatically always sit upright and cannot lean back. Your arms must also be at an ideal angle on the table, as you cannot rest them on the side of the chair.
The Deskspace Motion features simple, stepless height adjustment with a gas spring, making setting the ideal height a breeze. In addition, the seat is made of breathable nylon and wool. When standing, the Deskspace Motion takes almost 60 percent of your body weight off, thus ideally combining the advantages of sitting and standing.
By the way: The ideal distribution for a workday in terms of working posture is: 60 percent sitting, 30 percent standing, and 10 percent movement. You should alternate between these regularly to keep your circulation going.
The ergonomic sit-stand stool from Deskspace is the ideal solution for back pain in the office. It prevents poor posture, keeps your body in motion, and ensures an ideal posture when sitting and standing. It also takes up little space and can easily disappear under the table if you want to work completely standing – something that is rather impossible with a classic office chair.
Conclusion: The right office chair for back pain in the office
In an incorrect office chair, you quickly adopt poor postures – you lean too far forward or too far back, putting excessive strain on your spine. With a suitable chair with all the important functions, you protect your body and remain productive for longer. However, the ideal solution for back pain at the workplace is an ergonomic sit-stand stool like the Deskspace Motion – with it, you even actively promote your health!
Feel free to visit our detailed product page to get a better impression of our product!
