If you are sitting all day for work, you need an ergonomic chair, one that suits your size, your workstation, and the tasks you need to do.

A chair that ‘fits’ you properly will help reduce fatigue, lower the risk of tension, pain and injury in your neck, shoulders and back, and improve your concentration.

Not all chairs suit all bodies. A short, slim person, for instance, may find that a chair is too high and the arm rests too far apart to be comfortable.

Choosing a chair

Before choosing a chair, look at the following features:

• Seat height range. The seat height should be adjustable to suit your height. Ideally you should be able to sit with both feet on the floor or on a footrest without pressure on the underside of your thighs.
• Adjustable backrest. The backrest should be adjustable both vertically and in the frontward and backward direction, and have a firm lumbar support. It should not create pressure points, and it should be of a height and width to support you without restricting movement.
• Seat depth and width. You should be able to sit in your chair without pressure at the back of your knees, with your back supported by the backrest, and support through your buttocks and thighs. The seat should be wide enough to allow you to have a comfortable and even pressure across the entire seat.
• Armrests. If your chair has armrests, they should evenly support your arms and be adjustable both for height and width (distance from the seat). Sometimes armrests are not helpful as they prevent you getting close enough to the desk – if this is the case, adjust or remove them (if possible) as needed.