Office Chair Mechanics and How They Work

Ergonomic or pneumatic office chairs are a staple part of the modern office and are essential for ensuring we remain comfortable throughout the day. Many of us are used to pulling eight- or nine-hour days at a desk, five days a week, without a good office chair we’d no doubt suffer neck and back pain, as well as general discomfort throughout the day.

We understand why they’re a vital part of office life, but how do office chairs work? This article discusses how each of our chairs is specifically designed to ensure maximum comfort for their user.

Seat Height

Office chairs are built around a single-acting cylinder (a spring that has been filled with air). This is connected to a piston, which in turn, moves into the cylinder when the lever is activated. The piston further compresses the air inside the chamber, moving the chair seat up, and when it’s removed the air decompresses and the seat lowers. The optimal seat height should allow the user to place both feet on the floor and comfortably rest their hands on the desk. Adjustable height is important for the user so they can maintain comfortable posture throughout the working day, saving them from slouching or crouching over when doing their jobs.

Adjustable Tilt Tension and Tilt Lock

The tilt mechanism is the key to the rock or recline function on an office chair. This is usually modified by a large round knob or a lever found underneath the seat of the chair. By using the tilt tension lever, you’ll be increasing or decreasing the amount of force needed to make the chair rock or recline backwards. Tilt lock uses a bar or pin to lock the chair at a certain upright position, combined with tilt tension this allows the user to adjust the recline of their chair depending on the task they’re carrying out. Locking the seat in an upright position can be useful for typing, but letting the chair recline can be comfortable when sitting in on meetings.

Lumbar Support and Back Height Adjustment

Any decent office chair worth its salt has Lumbar support, but how does it work? As the lower part of our spine naturally curves in towards our stomach, lumbar support is designed to support good posture and fill the gap between the lumbar spine and the seat of the chair. When positioned correctly it helps keep our ears, shoulders and pelvis aligned, while supporting the natural curvature of the spine. Many chairs come with lumbar support and back height adjustments. Often modified by turning a knob found on the backrest frame, the backrest and lumbar support can be raised or lowered to meet the user’s personal requirements. Ratchet back height adjustment is popular with modern offices chairs, this works by adjusting the back-rest height then simply locking it into position. You can also buy portable lumbar support which is a curved cushion that fits to the back of the seat.

Adjustable Arm Rests

Although they may seem like a small feature, having adjustable armrests for your chair can make a big difference when it comes to posture and comfort. There are several different types of armchair, typically, loop or T-Arm designs are adjustable and work on a simple lever. Usually found on the armrest itself, pulling this lever allows you to raise or lower the armrest to the optimum height before locking it into position. You can also buy armrests with adjustable width and pivot, as well as 360 rotation. Having armrests at the correct height is important for avoiding stress injuries and neck and shoulder pain, allowing you to work comfortably for longer periods.

This article should help you understand the science and technology behind how office chair mechanisms help you stay comfortable throughout a day at work. A sign of a good quality office chair is more ergonomic features to help you customise for your comfort. Furniture At Work has a huge range of industry-leading office chairs at an unbeatable price, stock up your workplace to help ensure a productive, motivated work environment.