Killer Chairs from (Office) Space
The fervor whipped up around the dangers of sitting seems more fitting for an attack from killer space clowns. Are our chairs really trying to destroy the human race? Or can the facts transform this necessary evil into a necessary good?
Your chair is killing you.
Sitting is the new smoking.
Killer clowns from outer space are harvesting humans for sustenance.
While all of those statements are equally ludicrous, you’ll find the former two frequently peppering top business publications, posing as legitimate headlines. The hyperbole is great for getting clicks, but isn’t quite representative of what the studies actually conclude.
Sitting on the Facts
More conversations were stirred up around the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle after a study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in early October of 2017. Some outlets pounced on the study and churned out articles focused on the conclusion that as sitting time increases, so does the risk of an early death. (A classic example of burying the lede.) In reality, the conclusion of the study was clearly stated:
“Both the total volume of sedentary time and its accrual in prolonged, uninterrupted bouts are associated with all-cause mortality, suggesting that physical activity guidelines should target reducing and interrupting sedentary time to reduce risk for death.”
It’s not that sitting is dangerous, instead it’s melting into your seat for hours on end without getting up that poses the biggest threat. I’m very guilty of this — hours can pass without me moving from wherever I’m working. Even getting up to go to the bathroom feels like a chore.
Standing Desks: Popular and Problematic
Standing desks are the fastest-growing employee benefit among U.S. workplaces. The Society for Human Resource Management annual survey of HR professionals found that 44 percent reported their company as providing or subsidizing standing desks for their employees. The use of sit-to-stand desks isn’t as well documented. However, some industry leaders place the figure at roughly 2 percent of office workers using sit-to-stand desks.
From my point-of-view, standing desks look exhausting. First of all, I’m not trying to relive my retail days where I’m on my feet for 10 hours straight. My flat feet can certainly attest to that point. Secondly, the constant weight-shifting and elbow-leaning inherent to standing all day look far from ideal — let alone comfortable.
Supporting my stance is the Cornell Human Factors and Ergonomics Research Group (or CHFERG if you like audacious acronyms). CHFERG outlines a number of problems associated with standing desks.
Not only is standing to work more tiring than sitting, it dramatically increases the risk of carotid atherosclerosis — which is a buildup of plaque inside artery walls that reduces blood flow to the brain. Yikes.
Furthermore, using a standing desk increases the risk of varicose veins and decreases performance of fine motor skills when compared to sitting down. Echoing the conclusion of the Annals of Internal Medicine study, CHFERG concludes that it’s best to sit to work, but get up and move regularly.
Office Chairs: Necessary (Not a Necessary Evil)
Let’s recap:
- Bad: Long, uninterrupted sedentary bouts.
- Bad: Standing desks, while popular, introduce additional negative health-related consequences.
- Good: Sitting, punctuated by frequent, regular movement.
Office chairs are simply necessary — not a necessary evil. They aren’t invading Earth, capturing and feeding on humans like some sort of killer clown. They’re just, well, chairs. But make no mistake, office (also called task) chairs are a critical investment in the modern workspace — and that’s not hyperbole.
Austin Beaslin, Principal at Design Source, expertly curates appropriate furnishings for commercial spaces. Understanding the importance of the task chair is quite literally a part of Austin’s job.
“With the movement to collaborative and communal concepts, the accommodations in a work space are becoming less and less individual,” Austin explains. “By providing a high quality and comfortable task chair, the user’s personal experience will be better regardless of their demographic or work style.”
Task Chair Do’s and Don’ts
It’s all about creating a personal experience within areas designed for homogenization. Easier said than done, right? Lucky for us, Austin outlines some basic do’s and don’ts for selecting the perfect task chair that can accommodate every kind of employee.
We’ll cover each of these in detail:
- DO Select Chairs with Synchro-Tilt Mechanisms
- DO Select Chairs with these 4 Adjustments
- DON’T Get Hung Up on Name Brands or Price
- DO Research on Warranties
- DO Consider What You Don’t See
- DO Consider the True Cost of Saving Money
- DON’T Pay for Frivolous Features
- DO Talk to a Pro
DO Select Chairs with Synchro-Tilt Mechanisms
Synchro-tilt mechanisms are a common, yet important, function to consider when selecting task chairs. “The days of having the ability to adjust each aspect of the chair individually are over,” Austin says. “The introduction of the synchro-tilt mechanism has forever changed the landscape of ergonomic seating — while helping create a standard.”
This mechanism allows the backrest of the chair to recline twice as fast as the seat. The 2-to-1 ratio allows the sitter to recline while remaining relatively level to the floor. Plus, it better reflects the natural movement of the human body.
DO Select Chairs with these 4 Adjustments
In addition to synchro-tilt mechanisms, other adjustment options allow the chair to accommodate to the individual user. Austin explains that if a chair feels good, has a synchro-tilt mechanism, and the four adjustments listed below, it’s worth considering.
Seat Depth Adjustment. The seat depth adjustment allows the sitter to modify the usable seat depth of the chair. When properly adjusted based on the sitter’s leg length, this feature helps maintain back support while distributing weight evenly across the cushion.
Ideal Position. The seat cushion should be positioned such that your back is in full contact with the backrest. At the same time, the edge of the seat cushion should be about 2” from the sitter’s calves.
Height Adjustment. As you might expect, height adjustment regulates height of chair relative to floor. The right height provides balanced support for the lower back, buttocks, and thighs.
Ideal Position. The sitter’s feet should be placed flat on the floor, with their knees bent at a 90 degree angle.
Tilt Tension. Did you ever lean back on the two rear legs of a chair a bit too far and experience that terrifying moment of lost balance where your life flashes before your eyes? That’s what it feels like when a chair’s tilt tension is too loose. The tilt tension function allows the chair to tilt comfortably based on the weight of the sitter.
Ideal Position. Tilt tension should be set so that it reclines with ease to the sitter, allowing them to easily change positions. Heavier and/or taller users need a tightened tilt tension, while the opposite is true for shorter and/or lighter individuals.
Tilt Lock. The tilt lock feature locks the chair in a fixed upright position to avoid any tilting.
Ideal Position. When typing, activating the tilt lock keeps the sitter in an upright position. When unlocked, the sitter can recline comfortably during phone calls or meetings.
DON’T Get Hung Up on Name Brands or Price
“Name brand and price are less relevant than before,” Austin divulges. The market for ergonomic seating has become highly competitive. A slew of small companies now produce high quality products at great prices — especially when that small company focuses myopically on seating, versus offering it alongside other commercial furniture products. It’s more important to educate yourself on the key features needed to better understand where the cost is associated. Oftentimes with name brands, the bulk of the cost can be tied to the brand premium.
DO Research on Warranties
When shopping for task chairs, you should look for either a full or limited lifetime warranty. Why? Because a warranty is an excellent indicator of longevity. “In commercial furniture, reputation is key,” Austin explains. “So, the user experience is extremely important with today’s manufacturers.” Companies that stand behind their product for a decade or more simultaneously ensure the chair’s components will stand the test of time. Some manufacturers even cover any labor costs associated with a product claim, if one should occur.
DO Consider What You Don’t See
“Much like a mattress, chairs can all seem to look the same,” Austin says. “In reality, it’s what you don’t see that will differentiate them.” High quality foam, mesh, textiles, and controls will ultimately determine the long-term comfort and — just like a mattress — are worth the additional costs at the end of the day.
DO Consider the True Cost of Saving Money
Costco is great for free samples and pallets of cheese balls, but you’d be wise to pass on that pallet of imported chairs. “Beware the pallet of imported, assembly required, chairs at Costco,” Austin warns. “These products are manufactured to be inexpensive. Which is fine for a home office, but will not withstand the day to day use that we see in commercial spaces.” Not only will you spend 30 minutes assembling the chair yourself, you’ll likely be revisiting buying replacements within 5 years.
DON’T Pay for Frivolous Features
Pay attention to the features needed for the end-use of the chair you’re purchasing so you don’t pay for frivolous features. Consider the application when selecting the adjustment functions, then determine if every ergonomic feature is necessary. “For instance, the cost to have the seat depth adjustment may run an additional $50 per chair,” says Austin. “So if the chairs are going in a conference room, opt out of that feature and invest it in the task chairs at workstations.”
DO Talk to a Pro
If you’re making an investment in task chairs, you should strongly consider involving a professional. The new role of contract furniture dealership has moved away from a sales scenario towards a consultation. “The modern workspace is transforming daily as we better understand the new trends with open office, accommodating the multi-generational workforce and the integration of technology,” Austin explains. “Not only will a professional consultant provide a huge amount of insight on product, they also can help you understand what struggles are arising from modern spaces — as they are confronted with them daily.”
Killer Chairs? Not on this Planet
If you’re fortunate enough to work in a safe, climate-controlled environment, you need to be mindful of your lifestyle’s sedentary nature. In fact, we need good chairs to be productive and pain-free whilst working the hours away. A good chair that you regularly get up from is the best solution to the sedentary work lives we lead.
Remember, your chair isn’t trying to harm you any more than those killer clowns from outer space.
