Problems of Ergonomic chair :
Ergonomic Chair: Probable Risks(4)
Most users tend to sit in awkward postures and thus lack adequate support, if the armrests they use are not adjustable. Let’s discuss the negative points of such armrests:
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Armrests that are too low force you to lean over to the side to rest one forearm which in turn results in uneven and awkward postures, fatiguing the neck, shoulders, and back.
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Armrests that are too high force you to sit with raised shoulders resulting in muscle tension and fatigue in the neck and shoulders.
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Armrests that are too wide force you to reach with the elbow and bend forward for support. This results in pulling the arm from the body and leads to muscle fatigue in the shoulders and neck.
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Armrests that are too close restrict movement in and out of the Ergonomic Chair.
- Armrests that are too large or inappropriately placed may interfere with the positioning of the Ergonomic Chair. If the Ergonomic Chair cannot be placed close enough to the keyboard, you may have to reach and lean forward in your chair. This in turn leads to fatigue and strain the lower back, arm, and shoulder.
- Armrests that are made of hard materials or that have sharp corners can irritate the nerves and blood vessels located in the forearm. This will create pain or tingling in the fingers, hand, and arm.
Feasible Solutions
Some chairs come with armrests that give more discomfort than comfort while working on the computer. Some interfere with your workstation ( Workstation Ergonomics) and some others cannot be adjusted properly. Try removing such armrests or at least stop using such armrests. While selecting Ergonomic Chair with armrests, check whether they can be adjusted according to your postures so that they give good support to your lower arm while allowing the upper arm to be close to the body. Armrests that can be properly adjusted should have the following features:
- They should have ample width for the users to get in and get out of the Ergonomic Chair easily.
- They should be close enough to support your lower arms keeping your upper arms close to your torso.
- They should be low enough keeping your shoulders relaxed while working on the computer.
- They should be high enough to support your lower arms when positioned comfortably at your sides. If the armrests are too low and you find it difficult to adjust them, add padding to the top of the armrests.
- They should be large enough to support most of your lower arm. Moreover, ensure that they are small so that they do not interfere with your Ergonomic Chair positioning.
- Ensure that the armrests are made of soft material and have blunt edges.
It is not necessary that all users should keep armrests to their Ergonomic Chairs. It depends on the amount of hours the user spends on the system per day, whether the user has suffered from or is suffering from Ergonomic problems, or whether the user prefers to work with armrests on the Ergonomics Chair. But, if you have already decided to have a pair for your Ergonomic Chair, do consider all the above-mentioned points before selecting the product.
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