Ergonomic Recliner Guide

I have a recliner chair in my living room, and I love sitting on it all night long watching TV, or reading books, after a hard day's work. I bought my recliner almost a year ago, and I am happy I did. It has become the best place for me to relax and getting rid of all the daytime working pressure. I did quite some research, digging all over the web for information about ergonomic recliner before buying it, and so I want to share the information that I have found useful here on Ergonomic Computing blog. Hopefully this will be helpful for those who are looking for a recliner chair.

Basically, there are 3 types of recliners: 2-position recliner, rocker recliner (also known as wall saver recliner), and push back recliner.

The two-position recliner is cheaper compare to the other types, and normally has less choice in styles and colors. And as you can tell from the name, the two-position recliner has two positions: upright or release the footrest to recline completely. You will need more space for this type of recliner.

The one that I bought is a rocker recliner, which is also known as wall saver recliner. The benefit of this type of recliner is that you can place it close to walls, which is perfect for small spaces. Also, it provides a wider range of reclining angles.

For push-back recliner, as the name suggest, will recline when you lean back. It's normally more costly compare to the other two, but it's also trendier and usually available in leather, making it more suitable for modern home.

There are a few factors that you should consider when buying a recliner: style, fit, fabric, and price.

For me, a recliner is all about comfort. So the first thing I look for, is a recliner that fit my body size. The taller you are, the larger the recliner you should get. Also, the recliner should be ergonomically designed: your feet should be touching the floor when the recliner's back is upright, the headrest should be support your head and neck, and the footrest should be easy to maneuver. The styles of the recliner comes next. Think about where you want to place your recliner, and pick a style and color that match with the surrounding furniture. Typically, the two-position recliner, although being the most affordable, is usually limited in colors, fabrics, and styles. The push back recliner, on the other hand, usually comes in leather with stylish design, but also the most costly. The Rocker Recliner stays in between of the other two. It's the most popular type of recliner and comes in the leather-vinyl combination.

Ready to shop for a perfect recliner? Here are a few websites which you can start your online shopping:

La-Z-Boy.com: One of the most recognized name in recliners. You will find reclina-rockers, reclina-gliders, reclina-way, classic recliners, reclina-rest, power recliners, luxury lifts, airspa massage, La-Z-Touch massage chairs, and many other furniture there.

Reclinersplus.com: Offers leather recliners, fabric recliners, and rocker gliders for purchase online. Check out their top selling products and reviews here.

Berkline.com: Well-known for recliners with great ergonomic support. Check out their website for complete descriptions and photos of all their latest models.

Lanefurniture.com: Offers various home furniture on their website, and they have a good collection of recliners for you to choose from!

I am sure there are much more online stores that you can purchase recliners from.. just search for them on Google. Guys, remember the key for a recliner is comfort. So always look for the most comfortable ergonomic recliner you can afford! You will not regret it!

Good Info About Ergonomic Chairs

As an office worker who sit all days while working, an ergonomic chair is necessary to make one's workstation safer and healthier. Here's a good article about ergonomic chair. It discuss about why we need ergonomic chair, how to select an ergonomic chair, and the good features to look for when selecting an ergonomic chair.

What is an "ergonomic" chair?

Finding the right ergonomic chair is a common problem especially for people who want to purchase new equipment to make workstations safer and healthier places. There are many "ergonomic" chairs available but it can be a mistake to purchase one simply because it is labeled "ergonomic".

Ergonomic chairs are designed to suit a range of people; however, there is no guarantee that they will suit any one person in particular. For example, a chair could be too high and the arm rests too far apart for a short, slim person. In addition, chairs may not suit every task or arrangement at the workstation. A chair becomes ergonomic only when it specifically suits a worker's size (body dimensions), his or her particular workstation, and the tasks that must be performed there. It is possible to find the right chair although it is not always easy.

Why is finding the right chair so important?

Today, in industrialized countries, many people sit for most of the time that they are awake. They sit while having breakfast, while going to work in cars or buses, in school classrooms, in meetings, in offices, during dinner, and at home while watching television. Many people also sit at work operating machines which new technology has developed to replace manual work. Although sitting requires less physical effort than standing or walking it puts a lot of stress on lumbar area. Combined effects of a sedentary lifestyle and a job that requires sitting can lead to many health problems.
What do you need to know about selecting a good "ergonomic" chair?

The selection of a suitable chair is a critical step in preventing health problems in people who work in a sitting position. With the ergonomics approach, sitting is viewed as a specific, specialized activity which is influenced by the way that a sitting person interacts with the working environment.

Several basic concepts should be considered:

• One chair does not fit everyone. The users' body dimensions must be used when selecting a chair so that it does not strain one part of the body while fitting another.
• Collect data about the user's body height. The optimal seat height is about one quarter of the body height. This is only a rule of thumb since the torso-to-leg ratio can vary widely..
• No one chair is suitable for every activity. For example, dentists require a different chair than do industrial workers or computer operators
• Consider maintenance and repair costs. Check with the manufacturer for items to inspect for and how often inspection should be done.
  

What are the features of a "good" chair?

Some features are mandatory for a good chair regardless of how you intend to use it:

• Adjustability - Check to see that seat height is adjustable.
• Seat height range - Check whether the seat height can be adjusted to the height recommended for the worker(s) who will use it. Other chairs may have to be selected for very short or tall workers.
• Backrest - Check to see that the backrest is adjustable both vertically and in the frontward and backward direction.
• Seat depth - Select the seats that suit the tallest and the shortest users
• Stability - Check for the stability of the chair; a five-point base is recommended.
  

Other features to consider

• See if the selected chair has features that will help someone do their job better. Arm rests with adjustable heights are good for computer operators. Wider or narrower arm rests may also be required depending on the worker's dimensions and tasks they do.
• See if the selected chair has features that will make doing a job more difficult. An example may be that someone may be using a chair with casters or wheels when a stable and stationary work position would be better. If chairs with casters are needed, choose ones that match the type of flooring you have (carpeting or hard floors).

Who should pick out the chair?

Personal preference is essential to the process of selecting a chair.

• After some suitable chairs have been identified, allow the person who will use the chair most to try out the chair in a real work situation. It is especially useful to obtain several sample chairs for a trial comparison by those who will be using them.
• Make sure that the chair meets the needs of the workers and their jobs before any final selection is made.
  

Can a chair solve all of the ergonomic problems of working in a sitting position?

A well-designed chair allows the user to sit in a balanced position. Buying an ergonomic chair is a good beginning but it may not bring the benefits expected. The actual sitting position depends on an individual's personal habits; he or she has to learn and practice how to sit properly.

Also, remember that the chair is only one of the components to be considered in workstation design. All the elements such as the chair, footrest (if needed), work surface, document holders, task lighting and so on need to have flexibility and adjustability to be "designed in."

Source: ccohs.ca
More reading: osha.gov

Fitness Tips for Office Workers

Most white collar workers nowadays spend most of their time working in cubicle, doing the same repetitive task everyday. So most of the time, they are forced to maintain the same physical position. This can lead to physical injury such as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) or Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Now here's a few simple tips which can help to lower the chance of getting these injuries:

1. Move around. After working for an hour or so, get up from your chair and walk around the office. For better result, you can do calf raises or even push up against the wall. Do this for 5 to 10 minutes every hours to exercise your muscle and better blood circulation. This will help to prevent injury to your back, eyes and wrists. If possible, spend half an hour walking after the lunch. this will increase your daily fitness level, and in long term will prevent high blood pressure.

2. Get better office equipment such as ergonomic mouse, keyboard, and chair. Sure these ergonomic equipments will cost you more money, but they are definitely worth investing in to keep yourself from computer related injuries. More ergonomic accessories will be posted on this blog, so definitely come back to check for reviews and deals for ergonomic office equipments!

3. Phonercise. What this means is to get up and walk around or some body stretching while you are on the phone. Again, you can do calf raises, knee bends, and other movement that will rotate and flex your wrists. Also, you can flex your neck forward and back (never rotate) and stretch your back.

4. Maintain a good diet. To save time, office worker tends to eat fast food for lunch. We all know that fast food is not much better than junk food. If you want to save time, fast food is not the only way to save you time. Prepare your own salad, grill chicken or other low calories food to work. Not only this will keep you healthy, doing this can actually save you money as well!

5. A little exercise before work. Before you start your day, do some minor warm up exercise to stretch your wrists and arms. Limber up your back by standing against a wall and pushing the small of your back against the wall. This will also strengthen your abdominal muscles. Do some calf raises and wall push-ups too.

That's the few simple tips for all office worker to help keeping higher level of fitness, and preventing computer related injuries.

Goldtouch Ergonomic Adjustable Keyboard

Incorrect posture may cause CTS and RSI. So it's always useful to have an adjustable keyboard like this one -- the Goldtouch Ergonomic Adjustable Keyboard from Keynovation.

"The Adjustable Ergonomic Keyboard allows you to adjust the two alphanumeric sections both horizontally and vertically to suit your individual body requirements. This helps you assume a more natural posture that is conducive to improving comfort and productivity while using your computer."

The Goldtouch Ergonomic Keyboard is available for both PC and Mac users. The price is the same for both version at $139.95.

Ergonomic Mouse: Contour Roller Mouse Pro

Contour Roller Mouse pro is an ergonomic mouse that is designed to help reducing shoulder pain.


It features a roller bar and set of buttons below the keyboard, allowing you to navigate and click with a cursor, without using a mouse. With optical technology and sliding roller bar which provides smooth spinning, the Contour Roller Mouse Pro reduces elbow and shoulder injuries by keeping your hands in optimal work zone. Also, the click tension of the rollerbar can be set to one of five levels using a switch on the bottom of the RollerMouse. This allows you to adjust how much force is required on the Rollerbar to trigger a mouse click.

A video demonstration for using the Contour Roller Mouse Pro:





The RollerMouse PRO is available for purchase on Contour Design at $199.95USD.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI is another office workers' illness that we always hear. I have read a few articles about this illness and consolidate all the useful information in this article. Hopefully this will be helpful to all of the white collars out there like me, who spend all day long with computers.

Repetitive Strain Injury is a common term referring to soft tissue injuries such as the carpal tunnel syndrome, Upper limb disorder, trigger finger, musculoskeletal disorders, and nerve spasms. RSI is also known as occupational overuse syndrome, or work related upper limb disorder (WRULD) and will cause prolonged pain experienced in neck or shoulder or hands or arms.


Causes Of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
Scientifically, the exact cause of RSI is unclear. In many examples, the victim of RSI is not experiencing any swelling, inflammation or other obvious problems which develop in the tendons or muscles, and yet symptoms develop. It is also unclear on why some people develop RSI and not others who do the same repetitive tasks.

Basically, it is believed that the major cause for Repetitive Strain Injury is regular recurring movements of a part of the body, such as typing on keyboard, or using a computer mouse all day long. Also, incorrect posture, or using excessive force while doing these repetitive tasks may contribute to RSI as well.

Some researches shows that stress at work or 'psycho-social workplace factors' might be another reason that contribute to RSI. The theory is that stress will increase muscle's tension, and affects how the body feels and thus causing pain in general.

Symptoms Of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
Here are the symptoms that the patients of RSI will typically experience:

• Pain in the arm (typically diffuse--i.e. spread over many areas).
• The pain is worse with activity.
• Weakness, lack of endurance.
• Muscles in the arms and shoulders feel hard and wiry when palpated.
  

The symptoms tend to be diffuse and non-anatomical, crossing the distribution of nerves, tendons, etc. They tend not to be characteristic of any discrete pathological conditions.

Treatments For Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
When you have experienced the symptoms stated above, see your doctor immediately to seek for advice. The earlier the problem is recognized and dealt with, the better the outcome. Here are some possible treatments/advices that your doctor may give:

• A course of anti-inflammatory painkillers.
• An injection of steroid may be considered into an area which has definite inflammation, such as a tenosynovitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
• A referral to a physiotherapist who can give advice to help with posture, and how to strengthen or relax the muscles involved.
• Look into practical ways of adjusting your work setup so as to reduce strain. Make use of ergonomic mouse/keyboard/chair at work place.
• Take a break from your repetitive task from time to time.
  
• If at all possible, stop or reduce the tasks or activities which seem to be causing the symptoms. This may be easier said than done if you job or livelihood depends on the task. If possible, discuss the problem with your employer. A change of task, or changes to your work environment, may be possible.
• Yoga, relaxation techniques, regular general exercise (such as swimming) might be useful in easing the symptoms. Some people find complementary therapists such as chiropractors and osteopaths helpful.

Again, it's always better to prevent than treatment. Setup your workplace ergonomically, do more exercise, and see your doctor as early as possible when you found the symptoms on yourself. Good luck folks.

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