Investing in Comfort: The Key to a Healthy Workday with a High-Quality Task Chair

In the fast-paced world of today, where many of us spend long hours at our desks, the importance of a high-quality task chair cannot be overstated. Maintaining proper posture is crucial for our overall well-being, and a supportive chair is a game-changer in achieving this.

One of the primary benefits of a top-notch task chair is its positive impact on posture. A chair with ergonomic design ensures that your body is properly aligned, reducing the risk of back pain and discomfort. The lower back, in particular, is a common area of complaint for office workers who spend extended periods seated. Investing in a chair that provides adequate lumbar support is a proactive measure against lower back strain.

With an increasing number of individuals experiencing back pain due to extended periods of sitting, a high-quality task chair becomes an essential tool in the fight against discomfort. By promoting proper spinal alignment and supporting the natural curvature of the spine, these chairs actively contribute to reducing the risk of chronic back issues.

In conclusion, the benefits of a high-quality task chair extend beyond mere comfort; they play a pivotal role in maintaining good posture and preventing lower back pain. Investing in your work environment is an investment in your health and productivity, making a quality task chair an indispensable asset for anyone spending significant hours at a desk.

Are You Sitting Correctly?

Are you sitting correctly? 

Sitting for long periods can have serious implications on your health and well being, as discussed in this previous post. Even if you have access to a sit stand (height adjustable) desk or rapid riser, you will likely be spending a significant portion of your day in your chair. It is therefore very important to ensure you have the correct chair for your needs, and that you are sitting in the right position. 

So, what is the correct sitting position?

• If you have an adjustable chair, it should be at a height that allows your wrists and forearms to be straight and level with the floor. Your elbows should be by the side of your body so the arm forms an L-shape at the elbow joint.

• Your hips should be as far back on the chair as possible, and the backrest high enough to support the curve in the lower back. 

• Shoulders should be back and relaxed at your sides, with your upper back straight and not hunched.  

• Your feet should be placed flat on the ground, and if this is not possible, resting on a footrest. 

• Your monitor should be at eye level if possible, as looking down can strain your neck. The monitor should be about an arms length away from your face. You may require a monitor stand to achieve this, and if working on a laptop, a remote keyboard could be of use. 

What is an ergonomic chair? 

An ergonomic chair is essentially a chair that is designed to be adaptable to the user's needs. This means that at a minimum your chair should have an adjustable seat height, seat depth and lumbar support. A chair is only considered to be ergonomic if it suits the users individual needs. One chair may be suitable for one person and unsuitable for another, based on their height, weight and the task being completed. 

Finding an appropriate chair can help to alleviate physical discomfort caused by excessive sitting. Back, shoulder, neck, hip and leg pain can be a signal that the chair you are using is not appropriate for you, or that you are not seated in the correct position. 

What is an AFRDI rating? 

AFRDI ratings give an indication of a chairs suitability for different purposes. It is a rating that takes into account a chairs strength, durability, stability, flammability, safety and ergonomic qualities. Suppliers that offer chairs with an AFRDI rating maintain these ratings through regular audits. 

There are 3 levels of AFRDI ratings: 

AFRDI Level 6 - a certified office chair that will meet most commercial needs.  Level 6 essentially signifies that a chair should be able to withstand extremely severe conditions of use, such as police stations, military installations, control rooms and use in heavy industry.

AFRDI Level 5 - certified office chairs are suitable for heavy duty office industrial and similar application.

AFRDI Level 4 - certified office chairs are suitable for office general keyboard and executive use. 

Contact us to find your ideal chair

James Harrison Office provides ergonomic and AFRDI rated chairs to suit all needs. To find out which chair would be most suitable for you, you can email us at admin@jhoffice.com.au and we will get back to you with the most appropriate chair, or you can contact us for a free quote on (03) 9021 6572. 

Why sit when you can stand? Benefits of a height adjustable desk.

Workplaces and offices can often be quite sedentary environments. Sitting at your desk for the majority of the day (not to mention the car ride to work and the TV time on the couch after a hard days work!) can lead to all sorts of physical problems. 

A sit stand desk, also known as a height adjustable desk, has been proven to be hugely beneficial in reducing the risk of a lot of these problems caused by excessive sitting. A sit stand desk is essentially a desk that can have its height adjusted (either manually or using a motor) from a sitting position to a standing position within seconds. 

Here are 7 benefits of using a sit stand desk which have been proven by a number of scientific studies. 

1. Standing burns a lot more calories than sitting

When compared to sitting at your desk, standing at your desk can burn at least 850 additional calories in a week! Studies have shown that over 170 more calories are burned by people standing at their desk than sitting, in just a 3 hour time frame. This is why long periods of sitting can be linked to obesity and metabolic disease.

2. Using a standing desk may reduce blood sugar levels

Multiple studies have shown that excessive sitting time can lead to a staggering 112% increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes when compared to those who sit less. 

Standing is also crucially important when returning to work after lunch. One study showed a 43% drop in the blood sugar spike when standing for 3 hours after lunch, as compared to those who sat for the same time period.

3. Using a standing desk may reduce your risk of heart disease

The effect sitting has on the health of your heart has been researched over multiple studies and has shown that prolonged sedentary time can increase the risk of heart disease by up to 147%. Even one hour of intense exercise may not be enough to neutralise the damage caused by sitting down all day. 

4. Standing is better for your back

Anyone who has experienced mild back pain will know that being sedentary for a long period of time does anything but improve the situation, especially if you are seated in an office chair without any ergonomic support. This is because you are putting more pressure on your back as you are seated, and it is much harder to have good posture when in a chair. 

A recent study was conducted on participants experiencing chronic lower back pain, which showed that over a 3 month period, pain levels were reduced significantly for those who were using a sit stand desk as compared to those who continued to just sit.

5. Sit stand desks help improve mood and energy levels

Sit stand desks can even have an impact on your overall well being. In one study participants were given sit stand desks to monitor their perceived mood and energy levels. 87% of participants stated that they felt increased levels of vigor and energy, and an improved mood. When the sit stand desks were taken away, these increased energy and mood levels reverted back to their original levels within 2 weeks.

6. Standing at your desk may increase productivity

Some may be concerned that working at a computer in a standing position can lead to being uncomfortable and finding it difficult to type on their keyboard. However this notion has been tested on young study participants and shown that there is no discernable drop in efficiency and effectiveness when working on their computer whilst standing. 

And given that there has proven to be less complaints of musculoskeletal issues when using a sit stand desk, and reports of increased energy and mood, the action of switching between a seated and standing position may actually increase levels of productivity.

7. Standing may even help you live longer!

As crazy as it may sound, studies have found evidence showing that there is a strong correlation between increased sitting time and early death. 

A review of 18 studies consisting of a total 800,000 participants actually showed that those who sit the most compared with those who sit the least had a 49% increased risk of dying from diabetes or heart related diseases. 

Another study estimated that reducing sitting time to 3 hours per day would raise the average person's life expectancy by 2 years.

Sitting for long periods has serious health and wellbeing implications, which can be combated by the use of sit stand desks, in conjunction with regular exercise. 

James Harrison Office specialises in providing a range of customisable sit stand desks, from manual straight desks, to 3 motor electric corner workstations and everything in between. We can deliver and install your sit stand desk statewide, and we provide ongoing support and service. Contact us today for a free quote.