Chairs that Won't Wreck Your Back? 118
texatut asks: "I'm sure many of you are familiar with this secenario. You spend 10-12 hours a day in a crappy chair, and your back pays the price. I know there are chairs there that cost in excess of $1000 that alleviate the problem, but that's a lot of money to pay for a chair. I wanted to ask you all to give recommendations and opinions on chairs that are in a slightly lower price range, say, below $600. My back thanks you in advance."
Re:well (Score:2, Interesting)
Ahem, 10-12 hours? (Score:4, Insightful)
Having said that, I'd get one with lower back support - makes it a lot easier to sit for a stretch and still be productive. Check out a few ergonomics diagrams available on the net and set up your work space accordingly - your entire body will thank you.
Try... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Ahem, 10-12 hours? (Score:2)
I use a little tool on my gnome panel that reminds me to take a break from the keys every hour. When the time comes it covers up my screen with a 5 minute countdown timer, at which point I get up and go for a walk. Without it I always end up going way too long without taking a break.
It's called Dr Wright, homepage is http://www.imendio.com/projects/drwright/
There's a gentoo ebuild for it in the standard tree in gnome-extra.
Re:Ahem, 10-12 hours? (Score:3, Informative)
Get the VERKSAM or NOMINELL models.
Re:very funny (Score:2)
I like the opposite (Score:2)
Another thing with not-overly-comfortable chair is that it's easier to remember to stand-up once in a while, and walk around and such. Moving around every once in a while is very good for your back.
Re:I like the opposite (Score:1)
Sounds like pissing in a wall socket because it feels so good when you stop[1] to me.
Agreed on walking around once in a while though.
[1] Jake Thomson, a.s.f.
more uselessness from ximpul (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:more uselessness from ximpul (Score:1)
Good and cheap (Score:1)
If you want one of those $1000 chairs for $600, I'd poke around on Ebay. They aren't that rare, although they were more common in the immediate post-boom period.
Just spend the money (Score:3, Funny)
Herman Miller Aeron (Score:5, Informative)
I have one at work and at home. They're terrific. Once you use them, you'll never want to go back.
HTH,
-Bill
Re:Herman Miller Aeron (Score:1)
I'm completly against paying over $200 for a chair.
Re:Herman Miller Aeron (Score:2)
Re:Herman Miller Aeron (Score:2)
They are definatly not the cheapest option out there, but compared to the money most of us toss at computers every year or 2, it's very worth while. It's a very well constructed chair, and I expect mine to last over 10 years (only minor scuffing after 2 so far).
$1,000-2,000 every 1-2 years for a new computer, compared to $600 ever 10 years for a spine saving chair. If you start looking at the numbers it gets a lot easier to push off an
Re:Herman Miller Aeron (Score:4, Interesting)
I find them to be scratchy and horrible. Nothing special as far as ergonomics go. Remember, Herman Miller also gave us the cubicle. Way to go.
At home, I've got a ~$100 chair picked up from the local office products store. Checked out all of them until I found one I liked.
At work, I've got some ergonomic wonder, but my company is also just large enough to freak out if they think we'll have grounds for an RSI lawsuit, so they'll readily accomodate us if we start complaining.
The best advice here is to take semi-regular breaks. Regular exercize probably wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, either.
-transiit
Re:Herman Miller Aeron (Score:1)
Re:Herman Miller Aeron (Score:2)
I suggest buying a cheap chair, and snapping the back off.
My office chair in my new job was IKEA shit, and since I daren't lean back on it, I tend to sit in the correct posture, slightly forward on my seat.
Also I leave the feet on my keyboard (its feet, notmine) down, so my wrists stay straight. (8 hous a day with a 20 degree deflection in my wrist? (not jokes please) that would cut off all my nerv
Re:Herman Miller Aeron (Score:2)
Taxpayers Bought Mine, Thank You (Score:2)
They bought Aerons for a bunch of people. Nice chairs. I wish I had one now.
That said, you still need to sit up straight, put the monitor in the right place, and raise or lower the desk to the right height for you and your keyboard.
Re:Taxpayers Bought Mine, Thank You (Score:2)
That is just what I think whenever this kind of request comes up: What's your posture like? What kind of shape are you in?
The only people I've known who had trouble with most office chairs were either very overweight or were improperly positioned: sitting wrong, monitor/keyboard at wrong height, that kind of thing.
Also it helps to get up every 1/2 hou
Re:Taxpayers Bought Mine, Thank You (Score:2)
As they say, this isn't rocket science. Sticking a book under a monitor is a lot cheaper than a new desk.
Herman Miller Mirra (Score:2)
Re:Herman Miller Mirra (Score:2)
You should be able to get a Mirra for around $550 in standard colors. For custom color combinations expect to pay another $50 and wait 4-8 weeks.
You should able to get a basic Aeron for around $650. Again additional stuff adds cost.
One thing to realize is that a high quality chair will last a long time, unless you abuse it. Herman Miller chairs come with a 12 year warranty. When you divide the cost over the many years yo
Change often (Score:5, Informative)
Sit on an excercise ball [fitter1.com] for a while.
Sit on a kneeling chair [sitincomfort.com] for a while.
Shift positions a lot.
Get a headset [hellodirect.com] so you don't have to hold a phone to your head.
Do back exercises every morning and every night. Sit ups, "superman"s (extensions).
And of course, get up and walk around every hour.
I have to agree (Score:2)
Before I started weight training I had a sore back all the time, now it feels great regarless of how I sit...
Also any extra weight you are carrying around can make a big difference in your back.
Personal Opinion (Score:4, Interesting)
Get off your butt and go to a store and try sitting in some different chairs!
There are hundreds of chair designs out there and I've sat in a variety of crappy chairs. If you want a good one, you are going to pay for it. The reason office chairs cost so much is because they are built to last a long time. We've got chairs that are over 20 years old from Steel Case. Generally, I am not pleased with the newer chairs and actually prefer the old ones. But they don't work for fat people because you can't sit down if you can't get your ass past the arm rests. Heck some fat folks ordered these chairs with arm rests the slide to the sides to accommodate their fat assess.
Want to save money? Look for used office furniture shops, you could get a great chair for a whole lot less then what they cost new.
Re:Personal Opinion (Score:3, Insightful)
That isn't a good idea. He is looking for a chair to sit in for 12 hours a day, 5(7?) days a week. 10 seconds per chair isn't enough to know which will work. Indeed a chair that is uncomfortable for 10 seconds may come out best after 12 hours! (unlikely, but how do you know?)
Re:Personal Opinion (Score:1)
So, what he needs to do is hit the library first, then spend the next few weekends trying out chairs!
"Umm, that creepy guy is back with his book and Mountain Dew. Should we call security? He was here from open to close last Saturday."
Re:Personal Opinion (Score:2)
It's not cos my fat arse doesn't fit mind but cos arms dig in to your thighs (c'mon, men, you know how we sit) and they get stuck on the edge of the desk.
Now, foot-rests, what the hell are they about? I mean, you end up rolling your chair back all the time, and that ain't useful.
Test them out (Score:3, Informative)
Also pay attention to posture and computer/monitor/keyboard position, and take regular breaks (with and without stretching) from the chair.
I walked into a Discovery Channel store not too long ago while traveling. They had a removeable lumbar support that you can attach to any chair. Didn't try it and YMMV, but it was about $60.
Oh and you might be able to find a $1000 chair on Ebay or Craig's List, or a local used furniture place for $600 or less. Businesses that go belly-up can have many expensive chairs on the cheap.
Alex.
Re:Test them out (Score:2)
What you really need to do is go to a dedicated office furniture dealer where they carry quality stuff with good warr
Re:Test them out (Score:2)
Yup. That's why it's important to test them out. No matter how good and expensive they look in the catalog, there's no way of knowing their quality and how appropriate they are for an individual's situation until you test them out.
I agree that a dedicated dealer of furniture and/or office furniture is a better bet. But at an Office Max type store you'll be able to figur
adjustable desk (Score:3, Interesting)
does wonders.
Get a Swiss Ball (Score:3, Interesting)
The important thing with a swiss ball is the height of it, when you sit on it your knees should be slightly below your ass.
Make sure you get a good strong ball, the cheap ones simply do NOT work.
I have a mediball pro 65cm which is good for my height (186cm), and haven't had any complaints in the couple of years that I've been using it.
Re:Get a Swiss Ball (Score:2)
To go back on topic, here is a cheap alternative to expensive 'ergonomic' chairs: get an old chair and remove the back rest and the arm rests. Now your body will have to actually work to keep itself upright. I had a colleague who used to sit like that and he said that it helped alleviate his back problems.
der Joachim
Anything like a Ben Wa Ball? (Score:2)
Or maybe a Swedish meatball?
Sweden - hmmm... Hey, you don't work on that Nokia platform do ya' - whadda they call it, the Sybian?
just purchased. (Score:2)
-shorter seat. having 2" clearance behind my knees, instead of none, means i get up and wheel about more easily.
-smaller wheelbase.
-detachable and/or adjustable arms. not part of structure, and only a single post holding them up, so less to get in the way of cushions or jackets etc. wish they were padded though.
-adjustable seat tilt
-seperate adjustable back tilt.
-both with an any-angle tilt-lock.
-adjust
Just a simple tip.. (Score:4, Informative)
Word That. (Score:2)
#1. If you're an average office guy, and spend a decent part of the day in a chair, be it in a car, or in the office, that wallet is throwing off your center of balance while sitting. Keep it in your inside jacket pocket.
#2. Roughly 95% of the worlds populace carries the wallet in the back pocket. Thieves know exactly where it is, and can snatch at will. Keep it in your inside jacket pocket.
Re:Word That. (Score:2)
Re:Word That. (Score:3, Funny)
Stuff it inside your pants. That way, if a theif goes for it, you're getting your money's worth.
Not just sitting .... (Score:2)
For years I've had the big George Castanza wallet, because I can't ever decide what I never want with me or what I occasionally want with me.
I still have the wallet, but it no longer lives in my back-pocket. Universally, my back feels better from nat having that monster deforming my spine.
Off load it to your backpack or laptop case or something.
How much for a new spine? (Score:4, Insightful)
But still a lot less than the price of wrecking your back in 5 years. Really, if you are sitting 10-12 hours a *day* in the same chair, then you are spending a tremendous amount of time in front of your computer and you better get the best ergonomics you can.
Really, if you are willing to spend $600, then you are already considering some high end chairs. Find the one that feels the best and dont worry so much about the price (assuming it doesnt cost $10K or something crazy). They are built to last and will serve you well for years to come.
Non-office chair (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Non-office chair (Score:2)
The Bank I work at has about a half a dozen of them and a bunch of people "upgraded" a couple of years ago - I didn't. As a matter of fact, I was able to appropriate on for home.
I did some looking on e-bay, and found that you could get this kind of chair for about $50 or so. It kind of has a 70's look, but what does you butt care?
Re:Non-office chair (Score:2)
Only if it's "butt ugly".
HAAHAAHAA me so funny.
From experience (Score:3, Informative)
1. Back problems (aches) due to fatigue are helped most by strengthening the abdominal muscles, which are what keeps the back aligned.
2. A straight back chair is best, but only if you put your feet FLAT on the floor. Otherwise, they are a pain (literally.)
3. Soft padding is a no-no. Maybe gel is good, I haven't tried it.
4. The backrest and seat should be adjustable for angle and height/reach. Change positions often.
5. I made my own perfect-for-me seat from a wrecked Thunderbird with the inflatable seatback option. I took the passenger seat (it was less worn) to a welding shop and had some straight pieces added for legs. It is adjustable, inflatable, durable, comfortable and cheap.
6. But most of the time, I compute on a yoga mat on the floor with the keyboard in my lap. Half Lotus works for me.
Re:From experience (Score:2)
It seems to me, however, that there are a lot of common fallacies with regards to back pain. I know that for me, swimming, sleeping on a hard bed, those kneeling chairs, etc. are all TERRIBLE for my back, no matter how good they are for other people. In fact, after any of those activities, I can barely walk.
With regards to chairs, I bought an Aeron a w
Re:From experience (Score:1)
Remember that your back is yours, and what works for you may be very different from what works for others. Try the chair for at least an hour before you buy: A chair that is comfortable for 10 minutes may be sheer hell for a day.
I also prefer a straight backed chair, however here in Norway I have a hard time finding a new office chair with a straight back. The chair I use at my office now is an old one that I found abandoned in the basement...
cheap wooden folding chair (Score:1)
of course thats because it is never comfortable enough to spend hours in the same position.
when i am working on one of those fancy office chairs because of some contract work i'm in trouble faster than i can think.
knee chair/stool (Score:2)
Of course, I couldn't relax much in it, and when I slouched it really made me tired, and after a while my knees hurt too.
They are called "knee chairs" and links to manufacturers / resellers are here [vitalityweb.com] and here [pricegrabber.com].
Of course, there's always the option of
Re:knee chair/stool (Score:1)
a great chair (Score:3, Informative)
Steelcase Leap (Score:2, Informative)
It is very adjustable...arm height, arm width, arm angle, chair height, seat depth, and seat edge. Plan on spending at least a week (took me 2) to get it set right for you. And then don't let other people muck with your settin
Re:Steelcase Leap (Score:2)
I spend a lot of time in a Steelcase Sensor (high-back with adjustable arms (try this link [steelcase.com])). It's fairly comfortable for my 6'2" frame.
Although I would have probably gone with the Leap if I had the option three years ago.
Re:Steelcase Leap (Score:2, Interesting)
My current chair at home is falling apart so I started looking around for a good deal on a Leap. I've quickly looked at some of the local retailers listed on Steelcase's site, but couldn't find any prices on them. No real discounts found on Froogle either
Try a Lovesac. It's Groovy. (Score:2)
Re:Try a Lovesac. It's Groovy. (Score:1)
Re:Try a Lovesac. It's Groovy. (Score:2)
herman miller rocks (Score:1)
Comment removed (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:justify the cost (Score:2)
I...am utterly speachless. What have people done to you?
Re:justify the cost (Score:3, Informative)
Re:justify the cost (Score:2)
Re:justify the cost (Score:2)
Hint for getting up every hour (Score:1)
Of course the rule of "all things in moderation" applies. Don't overdo it as you'll make yourself ill by overdiluting your internal electrolytes (oversimplification) but a couple of litres a day shouldn't hurt.
forget the char, do some tai chi chuan (Score:2)
Why are there so many crappy chairs??? (Score:2)
Why are so many chairs crappy? Why are so few people making decent chairs for decent prices? Just sit in some chairs for a few minutes and it's obvious they are crap.
I thought the US folk have lawsuit happy people?
Strange.
Given the amounts some of you are willing to spend why don't you buy a TFT screen, suspend it from the ceiling, and then work lying down flat on your b
Re:Why are there so many crappy chairs??? (Score:2)
Well, it's not "thousands", but it is around a thousand. because that's what good quality chairs cost.
Why are so many chairs crappy?
Because people are cheap and buy cheap chairs because they are cheap. Quality takes a back seat to price (pardon the pun.)
Why are so few people making decent chairs for decent prices?
Because good quality costs more. Sure, you can buy c
Re:Why are there so many crappy chairs??? (Score:2)
Believe me, I've tried some chairs and after a certain point, the grade and thickness of the plastic or steel used only affects how long it lasts (and how heavy it is), not how comfortable it is.
I've seen chairs that are about USD60-80, and if they would just change the shapes (same material) t
Regardless of chair I use... (Score:2)
Re:Regardless of chair I use... (Score:2, Informative)
The Le Corbusier Lounge Chair (Score:2)
It takes a bit of getting used to having your keyboard in your lap and the screen on a stool next to you, but it sure is perfect for the back. I have worked 30 hour stretches on this one and gotten up without a twinge in the back. The neck can get a bit stiff, if you don't move your head much during work, but that's a small price to pay, I think.
And then there's saddle chairs, of course, whch will strengthen your lower back while you work, but I'm too lazy to get past the fo
I promise this isn't a joke (Score:1)
Even when I was Programming 21 hours per day for three weeks (was working on a project with very limited time) I didn't have ANY problem with my back.
And I have had very much problems with my back over the years, but it loves that kind of chair.
I know it's not that
Re:I promise this isn't a joke (Score:1)
Ouch, that must have hurt your girlfriend! ^^
Re:I promise this isn't a joke (Score:2)
Best chair I've ever owned (Score:2, Informative)
Of course, within the month the back had fallen off. It wasnt designed for use without arms. I figure
THe chair is unimportant.... (Score:4, Informative)
-Do some pilates or yoga. I know, rubish new ageism, but try to do a couple of exercises for begineers and then tell me if youa re on shape or not.
-Exercise. Any exercise will do.
-Don't sit that many hours in front of a computer. Takes brakes often and regularly.
Ultimately any chair that is adjustable will work, even cheap crappy ones.
Re:THe chair is unimportant.... (Score:3, Informative)
The place I worked before my current employer had Aeron chairs. My back would occasionally get sore, but nothing horrible. My current job has generic office chairs that are in bad shape. After about a month, I was seeing a massage therapist every other week.
That's a bit expensive, so I decided to make some changes. I found the best chair I could at the office, which helped a little. I also started doing yoga. This helped a great deal.
Some exercises that really helped my
Re:THe chair is unimportant.... (Score:2)
When you're doing the above, you put the pressure on the bones of the spine, relieving the disks. This is the opposite of how most people's posture holds them. Especially when sitting infront of a computer all day.
Don't be quick to buy an office chair online (Score:2)
Re:Don't be quick to buy an office chair online (Score:1)
Håg capisco (Score:2)
The chair doesn't matter (Score:4, Insightful)
Do some excercises. If you have to spend most of your day sitting, you can reduce the time you spend on it by slowly adding weight. The things you should be doing are sit-ups (with a weight held cross armed on your chest if you only want to do 25 reps instead of 100), deadlifts (get a weight for each hand, or a bar, bend your knees only slightly and then bend at your lower back lifting with your lower back muscles. Keep your upper back straight or you'll hurt yourself), and some upper back work depending on equipment availablity. If you have access to some gym equipment, do some pulldowns with a bar that lets your hands face inward. If you don't, get some dumbells, lie on your chest, and with your arms out lift them 3 or four inches off the floor and hold them up for a few seconds. When you're not really weak anymore you can try some pullups. If you're to the point where you have upper back pain from sitting, and there's nothing physically injured about your back though, it'll probably be a while before you can do even one pull-up.
Spend 10-15 minutes a day staying in shape a bit and you won't have any back pain. (Except for the first few days after you start... You'll hurt like you've never hurt before those first few days...)
Re:The chair doesn't matter (Score:1)
Strap-on backrest (Score:1)
The small pad in the middle is attached by velcro, and is completly adjustable/removable. I haven't really found any problems with this thing so far, so I think it might be a good alterantive to your problem.
You need more than just a chair (Score:3, Insightful)
Get a screen that's large and bright enough so you can see it when sitting in the proper position in your chair. A $1000 chair isn't going to do any good if you have to lean forward all day just to see your monitor.
Consider moving your keyboard and mouse off of your desk onto a keyboard tray. When sitting in the proper position with proper posture in your chair, your forearms should be level or pointing ever-so-slightly downward.
Learn to use your keyboard. Don't rest your wrists on the desk or one of those wrist wrests (unless it's really, really thick); this causes your wrists to bend backwards, pinching and fatiguing the nerves therein. Likewise, avoid bending your wrists down or to the side. Hang your arms down at your sides totally relaxed, ape-like. Look at your hand position relative to your forearm: this is the ideal position.
Adjust your chair's armrests to support your forearms above your keyboard, so your back muscles are relaxed. A wireless, ergonomic keyboard placed in your lap with properly adjusted armrests can be very comfortable for long sessions, though you might need a bean bag to get it at the proper angle and elevation.
Learn to use keyboard shortcuts and menu hotkeys. (Microsoft Word be used mouselessly to a large degree; WP can be used entirely with the keyboard.) When you are always taking your hand away from your keyboard to use the mouse, you add stress to your arms and back and lose productivity. If you can find a wireless keyboard with a built-in trackball, touch pad, or trackpoint, so much the better. Look for one where you don't have to remove your hand from the home position to operate it.
Make sure your lighting is such that it doesn't glare in your eyes or on the screen.
Move your mouse to the opposite hand you write with. This will increase your productivity because you won't have to set down your pen to scroll; you'll be able to write as you are scrolling. It'll seem awkward at first, but with practice it will begin to feel more natural.
Have you considered a barkolounger and a flat panel on an arm?
Do situps. Seriously. The abdominal muscles help support your back. My brother started doing situps every day and now rarely has back problems. He's not an office worker; he's a farmer and a forester.
Look around frequently. Stretch. Throw things at your cubiclemate.
Lastly, I am not an ergonomist and your mileage may vary.
Whats the big deal? (Score:2)
Like this Donut [goodspharmacy.com]
'course it might be a bit embarassing to sit on a donut all day, but if it helps...
Kneeling Chairs! (Score:2)
Two tips - foot rest and back exercise (Score:2)
2. Take up some form of exercise that strengthens your back. I had a pretty weak back after tearing a load of muscles up one side playing field hockey 6 years ago. After I started using the rowing machine (ergometer) at the gym, I found my comfort in front of a machine improved a great deal. It's worth asking the
Stokke kneeling chair (Score:1)
Try the Swopper (Score:1)
Ikea (Score:2)
I can't seem to find it on the Ikea USA website, so it could be that it was cheap because it's a model that's being retired. Bought it 2 weeks ago at the brand new Ikea in CT.
Go try a Swopper (Score:1)
I found that with my desk an exercise ball as mentioned above was too short, which just caused new problems. The Swopper is height adjustable just like most other office chairs, and you can also adjust the tension and sway in the spring.
I'm recovering from back problems that arose from sitting in a broken chair for a year at work on a cement floor where the heat didn't work and we had a tin roof (ie freezing in winter, boiling in summer). Oregon's unemployment rates w
Saddle chairs (Score:1)
Chairs? (Score:2)
Take the occasional horizontal nap as a refresher. That's where you're a Viking!
A $3000.00 seat for a few hundred... (Score:1)