Your home office workspace doesn’t need a lot of room. Just an unused wall space with a desk up on it and a few shelves here and there, and a comfortable chair and you are half way there. No matter if you’ve just moved into a new office or are setting up an office in your house, having a comfortable chair is important.

Any chair that has been designed to best support the body in terms of proper posture, health, and comfort is known as an ergonomic chair. You are going to spend at least 8 hours typing away as a transcriber and the importance of an ergonomic chair becomes clear once you incur your first back injury or leg injury because of sitting in a “regular” chair.  The best office chairs should at least be supportive, adjustable and durable since you’ll be spending a lot of time at your desk.

There are many chairs out there and many that claim to be the answer for everyone.  So, in this blog we’ll be looking at how to select the best ergonomic office chair for transcription work.

Adjustability

When considering an office chair, it is advisable to pick a chair that is easily adjustable for height. An adjustable chair has many health benefits that go beyond just the lumbar and orthopedic support. Office chairs that allow for natural movement have a positive effect on circulation, breath and respiration, organ release, and peripheral joint integrity which in turn increases productivity and reduces fatigue which leads to increased output on work.

Lumbar Spine Support

The term “lumbar” refers to the lower region of your back. Traditional chairs can put undue strain on your spine, and over time can lead to bad posture whilst increasing your susceptibility to the back. A good office chair that offers proper lumbar support will help you maintain a neutral posture, so a lot of thought should be put into picking an office chair. Having additional support to the lumbar region helps promote good posture by simply filling in the gap between the lumbar spine and the seat, hence supporting the natural inward curve of the lower back.

There are two types of lumbar support for chairs, one that comes fixed to the chair and is completely ridged, and a portable one which is a curved cushion or lumbar roll, fitted to the seat back of an office chair. It can be manually placed to fit the proper areas of the chair.

Headrest Vs No Headrest

Having an office chair with a headrest is definitely a benefit. The more support your body has while working the better. Headrests also prevent you from hunching forward. That’s why investing in a headrest is a good idea. That being said, poor fitting headrests can be more harmful than good.  Having an adjustable headrest customized to your body can often save yourself the annoying neck, shoulder and other body aches common in office jobs. With some office chairs, you can tilt your head back and receive support that takes some of the pressure off your head and neck. The added stability and support of a chair with a neck rest, you gain benefits like pain relief, improved posture, and as a way to rest.

Material

This applies to the material of the backrests and the seat of the chair. The material dictates to some extent, how the chair supports your body and keeps you comfortable. Different chairs have their benefits and drawbacks when it comes to the fabric, mesh to genuine leather and faux leather.

Mesh chairs offer a breathable mesh filter-like seat that can provide hours of comfort. These types of chairs encourage the flow of fresh air and can provide you with cool comfort, especially during the summer months.

Leather chairs on the other hand are expensive to maintain the leather material. But if you are looking for prestige, then this is the way to go. They do offer comfort as well.

Fabric chairs are the most common for computer desks. They are comfortable, easy to maintain and come in a wide variety of colors. They however do not allow for free flow of air as the mesh chairs offer which makes them hold more moisture and odor from sitting on them for endless hours. Spills from drinks can also be a nightmare for these materials.

Vinyl chairs on the other hand are easy to clean and are durable and sturdy. But unlike the mesh chair, they are not breathable

Plastic chairs are also an option and just like vinyl chairs they are easy to clean. If you are not into aesthetics then this is a good material to go for.

In summary the type of material you chose for your chair really comes down to personal preference. Pick a material that is healthy and in the long run will serve you well.

Having an ergonomic chair accommodates your body type, encouraging better posture, and helps you focus, all the while fostering a greater sense of physical and emotional ease. It must be noted however, there is no perfect model or one-size-fits-all when it comes to finding the right ergonomic office chair and because of this, it can be tricky as everybody is built differently. Probably what’s comfortable for one person is miserable for another person. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive chair, just what’s right for an individual looking to buy one.

That’s it for this blog, I do hope it will be helpful for the next time you go out to look for a favorable ergonomic chair. Check out my blog on Top Three Tips to Consider when Picking a Foot Pedal to better your experience while transcribing your oral history interviews.

Kindly keep us in mind for any of your transcription needs and remember, always be kind, try to stay positive and learn to unwind.