Ergonomic chairs are very compatible with body types because of their rich adjustability. Whether you are 160cm or 180cm tall, you can basically adjust the seat height to suit you (but some ergonomic chairs have very high seats, which are more suitable for people over 165cm tall).
Compared with ordinary chairs, the biggest feature of ergonomic chairs is their structure. Ordinary chairs are simple in design, while ergonomic chairs are more complex. Let's introduce the components of ergonomic chairs.
Ergonomic chairs can be roughly divided into 6 parts [backrest, base, headrest, armrest, gas pressure rod, and chair feet]. Let's introduce them one by one.
(1) Backrest [One of the core parts, spine support]
The reason why the backrest is put first is that some chairs on the market have unreasonable backrest designs. If you only sit on them occasionally, it's okay. If you sit on such an unreasonable chair for a long time, it may damage your lumbar spine.
There are two main types of chair backs:
Mainstream integrated single-back chairs (basically this type in foreign countries)
Partitioned double-back chairs that are very popular in China
Integrated
The advantage of integrated chairs is that they provide stronger support for our waists. Some of the lumbar pillows at the back can also be adjusted in height and strength up and down, front and back. The disadvantage is that they are not so perfect for our spines.
Note: Please avoid chairs with exaggerated back curvature (to attract attention). They are very uncomfortable.
Partitioned design
This type of chair back with partitioned design is only popular in China, and basically not available abroad.
The advantage of this design is that it is better for our spines and more ergonomic.
There is also a very important point. The lumbar curvature of some chairs is very prominent, and the transition of the backrest is uneven. You will feel uncomfortable when you lean on it.
Those who have never sat on an ergonomic chair may think that ergonomic chairs are just like this. In fact, this is very misleading. If you find that the ergonomic chair you bought is uncomfortable (of course, you need to adapt for a period of time in the early stage, preferably a week), then it is definitely not your problem, and you can throw away the chair.
Lest you hurt your waist, especially those who have spinal problems, you need to pay special attention. I will emphasize this point in the future when I will avoid pitfalls when buying ergonomic chairs.
(2) Base [One of the core parts, hip support]
The base is mainly divided into three parts: seat cushion, operation and chassis
① Seat cushion
The material of the seat cushion can be divided into two types: mesh and sponge
Mesh
Mainly divided into high rebound and low rebound
High rebound mesh: The mesh is soft and comfortable, but it is not suitable for people with heavy weight (referring to those over 90kg, some mesh with poor performance is not suitable for 80kg), and people with heavy weight will find it too soft to sit on
Low rebound mesh: It is a bit harder and more suitable for people with heavy weight. A good low rebound mesh can correct the sitting posture
Sponge
Sponge is similar to high rebound mesh, with high softness. It is suitable for sitting in winter, but too stuffy in summer.
However, it should be noted that some sponge chairs have more original sponge in the seat cushion, so the softness is not as soft as you think. In this case, it is more suitable for people with heavy weight, and they will not sink into it directly when sitting on it.
Regarding the cushion, the summary is: it is not recommended for people with heavy weight to choose high-rebound mesh chairs (those claiming to be imported mesh)
② Operation
Pole control and wire control
The difference between them is that wire control is more convenient and smoother to operate, and high-end chairs will use this
③ Chassis
Mainly divided into [self-loaded chassis] and [manually adjusted strength chassis]
It needs to be specially explained here that a considerable number of high-end chairs use this self-loaded chassis. It will automatically adjust the reclining force according to your weight. In fact, this is not friendly to people who are too light or too heavy. If you are too light, it is difficult to lean back. If you are too heavy, the force of leaning back is too small, so this self-loaded chassis is not that smart (gimmicks are more practical).
Therefore, it is recommended that people with light weight (below 60kg) or heavy weight (above 90kg) choose this chair with manual adjustment of reclining force.
(3) Headrest [One of the core parts, cervical support]
The more adjustable the headrest is, the better. This way, we can adjust it to the support position that suits us best, and people of different heights can also adjust it to the support point that suits them.
The headrest adjustment is mainly divided into up and down, front and back, and rotation.
The mainstream chairs can only be adjusted up and down and rotated.
The more perfect designed ones can also be adjusted front and back. This kind of headrest is very friendly to people with small stature.
(4) Armrest
Regarding the armrest, I personally think that as long as there is height adjustment, the other left and right and rotation adjustments are just icing on the cake and are not necessary.
Of course, some people will rotate the armrest inward when typing on the computer. At this time, they will feel that rotation adjustment is necessary. It depends on personal habits.
(5) Gas rod
The gas rod involves safety, and we should also pay attention to it. For example, in the early years, there was an incident of gas rod explosion. The reason was that some manufacturers used inferior gas rods. Generally, low-priced lifting chairs need special attention, such as chairs of three or four hundred yuan or less.
(6) Chair legs
Chair legs are mainly divided into three types: aluminum alloy, nylon, and steel
Aluminum alloy chair legs are the best. They are usually cast in one go, look good, and have a heavy load capacity, but they are also the most expensive.
Nylon chair legs are the lightest and relatively cheap. They are suitable for people with small statures. People with large weights may be in danger of tipping over when leaning back.
Steel chair legs are usually welded, and have a slightly better load-bearing capacity than ordinary nylon. However, if the welding is not handled properly, rust will occur later.
