All ergonomic chairs can be used as office chairs, but not all office chairs are ergonomic. So, what is the difference between an office chair vs ergonomic chair?
The biggest difference between these two chairs is the primary purpose that they serve. Regular office chairs are designed to be comfortable for long periods of sitting. However, they lack the ability to promote proper posture and maximize productivity like ergonomic chairs do.
But the differences don’t stop there.
In this article, we will talk about what makes ergonomic chairs different from regular office chairs. More than that, we will tell you the importance of having an ergonomic office chair.
Let’s dive right in.
Office Chair vs Ergonomic Chair: What Is The Difference?
Although they may look the same, there are a lot of differences between a regular office chair vs ergonomic chair. To find out what those are, let us first define each type of chair:
What Is An Office Chair?
A regular office chair comes with all the parts that you need to stay in a comfortable position–but only for a certain amount of time. These include armrests, a backrest, seat height control, and often a limited tilt tension adjustment.
At first glance, a regular office chair looks like it should keep you comfortable. However, most parts of a typical office chair are often non-adjustable. This means that you cannot adjust the height of your armrests, the recline of your seat, the depth of your seat, and more. As a result, you are forced into a sitting position that likely won’t keep you comfortable for long.
What Is An Ergonomic Chair?
An ergonomic chair is designed to support the human body in the best way possible. Its design is backed by ergonomics, which is the application of psychological and physiological principles to optimize human well-being and productivity.
Hence, an ergonomic chair comes with many adjustable parts, including seat height, backrest, seat depth, armrests, seat tilt, and headrest. This amount of adjustability allows you to modify your position in the best way possible, with regard to your physique.
Another big difference between an ergonomic chair vs office chair is that the former has lumbar back support, which provides support to your lower spine. Without it, your lower spine will take the brunt of the pressure from sitting for too long, which will eventually lead to pain.
Combining adjustability and lumbar back support, an ergonomic chair provides the following benefits:
- Promotes proper posture while sitting
- Prevents pains and aches
- Helps you focus and maintain productivity
- Prevents unnecessary stress due to pain
- Helps avoid absences due to injuries
Office Chair vs Ergonomic Chair: Which Is Right For You?
Now that you know the biggest differences between an ergonomic chair vs office chair, it’s easy to see which one is better for you.
A regular office chair is perfectly okay to use. But unless you can maintain proper sitting posture at all times, it won’t be long before your body starts hurting.
An ergonomic chair, on the other hand, will help you maintain proper posture throughout the day. This is because it comes with lumbar back support and adjustable parts that will help you position your body correctly. As a result, you are at much less risk for developing back pain, neck pain, hip pain, and other types of pain associated with sitting for long periods.
More than that, you are lowering your risk for injuries and illnesses that are linked to sitting for too long. These include deep vein thrombosis (DVT), obesity, weakened legs, and varicose veins.
But the benefits don’t end here!
When you are distracted by pain, it is much harder to stay focused on your work. Hence, you will be more productive, more motivated, and generally happier while working in an ergonomic office chair compared to a regular seat.
All that said, it is clear that an ergonomic chair is superior to a regular office chair. So, if you spend most of your workdays sitting in front of a computer, it is highly advisable to invest in a chair that will not only keep you comfortable but also healthy all throughout. Want to learn more about these key benefits? Keep reading as we go in-depth!
Why Your Office Chair Must Be Ergonomic
A regular office chair might be cheaper, but it is rarely a good choice for your physical and mental well-being. Sitting for too long is already bad enough; if you are sitting on a chair that’s not ergonomic, you are likely putting yourself at even more risk for the negative consequences. So, what are the most important reasons why your office chair should be ergonomic?
Better Posture For Pain-Free Working All Day Long
Ergonomic chairs help promote proper posture by encouraging your body to sit in the proper sitting position. To be more specific, the lumbar back support helps to support the natural curve of your lower spine, which helps prevent pressure from accumulating there. Adjustable armrests allow you to position your arms at the right height relative to your desk. Adjustable seat depth ensures that the back of your thighs has enough support instead of hanging off of the seat, thus putting pressure on your hips. And the list goes on.
But why is all this important?
Maintaining proper posture is crucial for people who sit in front of their desks all day long. Aside from preventing cosmetic issues (e.g. a hunched back), proper posture keeps aches and pains away. Moreover, this also reduces your risk of getting injured due to a weakened spine. And as you’ll soon discover, an ergonomic chair can have powerful effects on your productivity, too.
Ergonomic Office Chairs Help You Focus
Ergonomic chairs are not only meant to take care of your physical well-being; they are also highly advantageous to your mental health as well. This is because when your body is properly supported, you maintain better focus for longer. Hence, you are more productive at work and are better able to perform at your best.
The mental benefits of an ergonomic office chair are part of the reason why desk chairs are so expensive. But when you’re supporting your body and boosting your productivity at the same time, the price is well worth it.
Lower Stress Levels
Work alone can often be stressful. That said, you don’t need pain on top of looming deadlines and annoying co-workers to stress you out. Luckily, the solution is much simpler than you think.
Replacing your office chair with an ergonomic chair can be just what you need to be less stressed at work. Think about it: if you are pain-free and comfortable all throughout the day, you will find yourself better able to tackle all the stress in the office. More than that, what’s a better way to take a break from office gossip and back-to-back meetings than relaxing in your comfy ergonomic chair?
Tips For Getting The Best Ergonomic Office Chair Possible
Even though all ergonomic chairs have the potential to provide the benefits we’ve mentioned above, not all of them are the same. With that being said, we’ve come up with some of the best tips to help you find the best ergonomic office chair for you:
Check The Specs
Make sure that the ergonomic chair you’re eyeing has all the features you need to stay comfortable, including adjustable seat height, lumbar back support, seat tilt adjustment, a headrest, and more.
Also, don’t forget to check the weight limit and recommended user height. If you are heavier or taller than the average person, you may need to buy a bigger ergonomic chair to reap its full benefits.
Don’t Skimp on Quality
It might be tempting to buy a cheaper ergonomic chair for the sake of saving money. However, this might have you end up with a chair that is not beneficial at all. Worse, a cheaper desk chair is much more prone to getting damaged due to its poor quality materials.
That said, try to avoid basing your buying decision on price alone. If you want an ergonomic chair that is effective, consider the quality first before the price tag.
Final Thoughts On The Office Chair vs Ergonomic Chair Debate
When it comes to the ergonomic chair vs office chair debate, the clear winner is, of course, the chair that provides the best support for the human body. An ergonomic office chair can keep you comfortable, healthy, and productive all throughout the workday, which is a huge return on investment if you ask us.
So, what are you waiting for? Get the perfect ergonomic office chair from ErgoTune today and watch how it can transform your work life.
Not only do we have the best ergonomic office chair in Australia - our chairs are suitable for all types of use, as we discussed in our breakdown of whether or not gaming chairs are good for office work. As such, ErgoTune offers the #1 Ergonomic chair in Australia for any use imaginable - whether you’re working or gaming, studying or relaxing, or anything in between.
