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.