When you try to set up a healthy office, chairs are one of the most important factors to consider. Many people ask themselves what office chair should they buy. After all, you will spend most of your time in a chair before a screen at work. But if you are thinking of getting chairs, you might have many questions. One of the essential questions is whether you should get chairs with armrests. The short answer is yes: generally, chairs with armrests are better. If you want to learn why and what to consider, read on, as we will overview the topic in depth.
Advantages of buying an office chair with armrests
Experts say that we sit in at least 12 different positions over the day. And how you put your arms is an important part. If your chair has armrests, you will likely instinctively put your arms on the armrests. This way, you will take some work off your joints and muscles. As a result, it reduces back stress and relieves your neck and shoulders. It gives you more strength and energy to work.
Also, armrests help you stabilize your posture. This way, they reduce the stress on your lower limbs and back. They can also help you get up and sit down faster as you have armrests as support. It is especially relevant for people who have knee problems.
The biggest disadvantage of armless chairs is that they might encourage the worker to lean forward. When you lean, you curve your back and so can experience more back pain. However, having a place to put your forearms decreases this danger.
Make sure the arms fit!
If the armrests do not fit, you will not benefit from them at all. In that case, it might even be better to go for an armless chair. So, what should you avoid?
Your forearms should not approach the keyboard from an angle. Then you have to bend your wrists sideways, although it is best to bend them only up and down. This issue can increase the risk of tendonitis, inflammation of tendons. It can also create pressure on the soft tissues of your forearms.
Unfit armrests can also encourage the worker to put entire forearms on the armrests. In turn, they might only move the mouse with wrists and one finger. Moving the mouse this way increases the pressure on the wrists.
Sometimes, they might not let the worker move closer to the computer because armrests hit the table. They might make the worker sit in an uncomfortable position. After some time, they might give up and slouch. For this reason, it is important to get a chair with adjustable armchairs.
Adjustments of armrests
Adjusting the chair can allow you to avoid the dangers mentioned above. It is always better to buy an adjustable office chair: this way you can make it perfect for you.
Height adjustments. Adjusting the right height allows you to find the best position for resting your hands. Resting your hands in the right way will take the work from your neck and shoulders, resulting in less pain.
Width adjustments. You adjust the distance between one armrest and the other. For some chairs, you have to unscrew the screws, some use levers, others allow you to just move the armrest a bit to the side.
Depth adjustment allows you to get closer to the keyboard. Armrests can get in a way if you want to move close to the table. Adjusting the depth of the armrests allows to move them back.
Finally, there is the pivot adjustment. It is not as important as others. But it can matter if you want to have a perfect armrest.
What office chair should I buy?
Now that you know more about chairs, you might be thinking about getting one. We recommend going for an adjustable chair with adjustable armrests. If you can, always try the chair before buying it. To start the search, you can check out Autonomous ErgoChairs with armrests.
Unfortunately, good-quality chairs are often on the pricier side. Do you not want to buy an office chair right away? Perhaps you think you might be moving to another office soon? Renting office equipment might suit you better than buying it then. Check out the advantages of renting office equipment.
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