Teach You How to Choose the “Office Artifact”
At this point, an ergonomic office chair designed based on human-machine efficiency principles — one that doesn’t cause fatigue even after long hours — becomes the “office artifact” that long-sitters regret not discovering sooner.
The Indispensable “Human-Machine Ergonomics”
Ergonomics (also known as human engineering or human factors): an emerging interdisciplinary field that studies the relationship between people, objects, and the environment, enabling mutual adaptation between humans and tools, creating comfortable and safe conditions, and improving work efficiency.
Where there are people, there is ergonomics. According to a World Health Organization report, about 30% of the workforce in developed countries and 50%–70% in developing countries face poor working conditions related to ergonomics, leading to musculoskeletal injuries and disorders that severely affect quality of life. The application of ergonomic principles and methods can effectively improve people’s quality of life.
The “Soulful” Ergonomic Chair How to Choose It
With so many brands and models of ergonomic chairs on the market, here are the key selection principles for a suitable chair:
01 The chair dimensions should match the body’s seated posture, with some room for movement.
02 The chair must be adjustable.
03 The chair material should be comfortable.
Seat Height
Seat height refers to the vertical distance from the seat surface to the floor.
Too low: Knees are raised, body weight is overly concentrated on the hips — after prolonged sitting, knees and hips become uncomfortable.
Too high: Lower legs hang in the air, blood circulation is obstructed, easily causing numbness and swelling in the legs.
The ideal seat height allows both feet to rest flat on the floor comfortably when seated. Based on Chinese body dimension data, the appropriate
height is about 40–44 cm
.
Seat Depth
Seat depth refers to the distance from the front to the back edge of the seat.
Too deep: It’s hard to lean against the backrest, and the front edge presses into the back of the knees.
Too shallow: The front of the thighs hangs in the air, with all weight on the lower legs.
A proper seat depth supports the lower back against the backrest while allowing free leg movement, helping relieve back and leg pain to some extent. Based on measurements of thigh length in a seated posture in China, the ideal depth is 38–42 cm.
Seat Width
The seat width should fully support the hips while allowing some room for movement and posture adjustment. Width should be determined by hip dimensions plus an appropriate activity range. The optimal seat width is 40–45 cm.
For chairs with armrests, consider arm support — width should generally be no less than 46 cm, but not excessively wide.
Seat Angle
Too much forward tilt: You may slide out of the seat while working.
Too much backward tilt: The back is pressed against the backrest.
The seat angle should be 1°–5°, shifting the center of gravity backward from the hips, allowing the backrest to share some of the hip pressure.
Chair Backrest
In a natural standing position, the human spine is “S”-shaped. When seated, the lower back tends to curve backward unconsciously — prolonged slouching easily causes back pain. A proper backrest supports the lower back, helping maintain the spine’s natural shape.
When the backrest angle is around 110°, the spine’s shape closely resembles its natural curve, minimizing pressure on the lower back. Additionally, using a lumbar pillow or support as a complement can further enhance overall comfort.
Overall, mesh fabric is an ideal seat material. In addition to excellent breathability and heat dissipation, it has moderate firmness and helps maintain proper posture.