What is ergonomic furniture?
What is ergonomic furniture? Ergonomic furniture is designed to provide comfort and support. They can help to reduce the risk of numerous health issues, such as arthritis, joint pain, musculoskeletal problems, and poor blood pressure, to name a few. Here are some of the key features that can help you sit comfortably:
Adjustable heights – allows you to customise furniture to make it comfortable for you, maintaining the correct posture by keeping your back straight and legs at the correct angle, as well as reducing the risk of joint pain and stiffness.
Fabrics that regulate temperature – helping to keep your body at a regular temperature.
180 degree adjustable chair arms – to mimic your arm movement.
Keyboard and mouse supports – these support your wrists and help to reduce the risk of developing conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
PRINCIPLES IN ACTION
One of the most important features of ergonomic office furniture is comfort. This, coupled with an understand of how the human body works, means that not all office furniture is ergonomic. Such factors as posture, ease of access, and the softness or hardness of surfaces all come together to depict a holistic idea of ergonomic office furniture. For instance, if at your desk you are unable to reach a certain shelf without having to stand up, you can bet that workstation is not ergonomically designed.
Or, the back of your chair does not adjust. Good posture is a relative term for each person, which means that in most cases all ergonomic office chairs will have adjustable backs, to fit to the user.
But, even psychological elements are important. Colour is an incredibly important element in design, as research shows humans interact differently with various hues. Red, for example, is known to increase blood flow, and heighten emotional responsiveness. Having a bright red desk might not be the best option for an office setting, where equanimity is an important personality trait.
There is also perception involved. Open-air workspaces are largely thought to have a positive impact on work wellness, while low-seated employees stuffed in high-walled cubicles can be isolating, both physically and psychologically. Standing while at your desk is an ergonomic principle. While research is still being done on whether or not there is an overall net benefit or detriment to standing desks, the idea of keeping the body physically engaged while standing for long periods of time is known to be better than sitting for eight or more hours a day.
