Did you know that one in four Americans sit for more than 8 hours per day? Multiple studies have found that prolonged sitting, especially with poor sitting posture, can trigger a wide range of health problems that can range from an increase in blood pressure to early signs of cancer. The more time you spend sitting, the more it can impact your health. In stressful work environments, it’s easy to forget about our health and our overall well-being. Thankfully, one simple solution is to invest in ergonomic office furniture.
Also read: Benefits of a Sit-to-Stand Desk for Your Home Office
Whether you’re looking for ergonomic furniture for your home office or looking for the best ergonomic chairs for your workplace, it’s important to understand what ergonomics is and its benefits. October is National Ergonomics Month and what better way to celebrate office wellness than do a deep dive about the importance of ergonomic office furniture. Read on to find out more!
What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is science. It is a discipline concerned with optimizing human well-being while interacting with other elements of a system. When it comes to furniture, ergonomics is the application of knowledge in the engineering and design of everyday products that complement natural human factors.
For instance, when a company takes into account the equipment that employees use in order to improve wellness and eliminate the possibility of physical injury--that is ergonomics applied. While ergonomics can be applied to any profession, it’s most often heard in the corporate workplace. When it comes to an office setting, the discipline of ergonomics is used to design furniture that promotes productivity at the highest safety levels. Ergonomics is also used in the product design of office furniture and fixtures, tools and equipment, and general utility products.
The main focus of a workplace ergonomics improvement process is to remove various risk factors that lead to musculoskeletal injuries and allows for improved human performance and productivity.
Why is ergonomic furniture important?
For many professionals, the functional movements we make in the workplace have become so mundane that it’s often difficult to remind ourselves about proper posture. As a result, employees often suffer from a number of chronic pains including:
- Back pain
- Muscle fatigue
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Shoulder pain
- Overall stiffness and aching
The importance of ergonomic office furniture is to lessen the impact that office work can have on our bodies while promoting healthy and natural body positions. Ergonomic office furniture is designed to support our body’s day-to-day functions while promoting comfort and wellbeing in the workplace. As a result, workers are more productive, healthy, and happy.
The benefits of ergonomic office furniture
In the modern workplace, a well-designed ergonomic workstation is essential in reducing health risk factors and injuries. Now that we’re spending more and more time at work, employers are beginning to realize the strain that traditional office furniture is having on their workforce. When choosing what kind of furniture to purchase, it’s important to equip yourself with enough know-how about the many benefits of ergonomic furniture.
Improved posture
If you’re sitting for hours at a time, you might want to consider getting an ergonomic office chair. Ergonomic office chairs lessen the risk of chronic back pain by promoting a sitting posture that aligns your shoulders, hips, and spine. When choosing an ergonomic chair, look for features such as lumbar support, a comfortable backrest with an inward curve, adjustable height and tilt, an armrest, and a headrest.
Increased comfort
Whether you work in an office setting or remotely from home, it’s always better to work when conditions are comfortable. Having the necessary ergonomic furniture which you can adjust depending on your preferences not only boosts your productivity but also improves your overall health.
Mitigate the risk of neck problems
Ergonomic chairs with headrests can better support your neck and mitigate the risk of serious neck and shoulder problems.
Lessen back pain
Without proper support, both your back and spine can experience stress that may lead to chronic pain. The good news is that an ergonomic office chair and/or an ergonomic standing desk can relieve back pain. Make sure to choose an office chair that follows your spine’s natural curve as this prevents you from slouching forward.
Relieve hip pressure
Prolonged sitting may cause your hip flexors to tighten. This contributes to lower back pain and hip discomfort. Select chairs with padded cushions and sufficient seat depth to reduce hip stress and pressure. You also have the option to get seat cushions for increased comfort.
Boosts productivity
Tasks are easier to accomplish when barriers to productivity such as health risk factors are removed. You won’t be able to perform your best when you’re in pain, right? Numerous studies have measured the productivity gains achieved when employees have greater personal control over their comfort. With ergonomic office furniture, you wouldn’t have to worry about pain and discomfort.
Closing Thoughts
Investing in your employees’ overall wellness, through ergonomic office furniture, shows that you respect and value their well-being more than anything else. If you want to improve your employees’ overall health and boost productivity at the office, ergonomic office furniture may be the solution for you. If you’re not sure where to start, try Corner Nook.
Corner Nook provides contract-grade, well-designed, and ergonomic furniture perfect for your workstation or your home office. Corner Nook has partnered with high-quality brands used in corporate offices and other commercial environments to make ergonomic products more accessible to the public. If you’re curious about other types of home office furniture, you can always visit their official website at www.cornernook.co.
