MEDIA CENTRE

A quality office chair helps improve posture and keep health problems at bay

Every day, millions of people across the UK sit in front of a desk. Humans were not built for prolonged periods of sitting - let alone hunched in front of a computer screen or doubled over a lengthy document. But this is becoming a common scenario for more and more people.

Common causes of back, neck and shoulder pain include sitting at an awkward angle, crossing your legs, and slumping in your chair. Many of these are in turn brought on by the position of your chair or monitor, which become intensified as your body attempts to adapt to your new posture.

Posture-related pain is a serious threat - and will only get worse until the root of the problem is found. In many cases the origin of the trouble relates to an injury or hereditary health problem, but poor posture invariably brings the problem to the surface and can intensify it further.

At work, one of the most effective ways to combat back pain is to invest in a quality office chair. Ideally it should be adjustable, with seat height and back recline as the most basic features. On top of that, a good office chair will also allow for the length of your legs, have a height-adjustable backrest, arm rests, and be able to support your forearms at desk height, too.

Speaking to The Guardian, Tim Hutchful of the British Chiropractic Association says that adjustability and positioning is key: "Ergonomics depend on the size of the operator, so the chair needs to fit your body shape."

It's worth spending time adjusting your chair to make sure that the height and tilt of the seat are correctly positioned. These top tips show that the ideal position allows for your feet to be flat on the floor, with your knees equal to, or slightly lower than, your hips.

When using computer equipment, the keyboard should be central to your body, and other items such as your phone should be within easy reach. Your monitor should be adjusted so that your neck is in a neutral, relaxed position, with the top of the monitor just above your eye level (when seated).

One surprisingly popular alternative to a chair is the use of an exercise ball. Although not necessarily appropriate in an office environment, many home workers have found that an exercise ball can offer important health benefits to help find and retain a good posture.

Jennifer Evans, Head Office Manager of recruitment firm RD Resourcing, has noticed the difference since replacing a standard office chair with an exercise ball.

"I started using it as I had constant back ache," she says, "and I was sure it was from a bad quality chair and poor posture. I stopped using it for a while as I was using my chair again, but then since sitting on it again I've noticed how many muscles it works and how it was really helping my back."

Although it has its downsides - such as being able to fall off it easily, and not being space efficient (it doesn't tuck under the desk like a chair) - an exercise ball can be good for posture as it keeps you aware of how you are sitting. It is also very difficult to slouch when using it, and helps gently tone your body muscles.

The theory is that as the ball lacks stability, you have to work and move regularly to stay balanced. This automatically encourages your back to stay straight and your body to remain central. By constantly adjusting your sitting position, you are also keeping your body moving - which in turn helps to encourage blood flow and increase circulation.

Some sources even suggest that using an exercise ball as a desk chair can burn up to 350 calories every day.

Whatever type of chair you opt for, one foolproof piece of advice is that you should get up and walk around at least every 20 minutes. This isn't always possible, so at the very least, try to remember to keep your back straight, your body central, and your feet flat on the floor (adding reminders to your Outlook calendar may help!).

Many serviced office providers include furniture in their standard offering, but if you have your own chair that has been adjusted to your body position, you should be able to take it with you.

For more details of furnished or unfurnished offices to rent anywhere in the UK, search online at officebroker.com or speak to one of our property experts for free help and advice.