Office furniture has come a long way since the days of wooden office chairs. These days, office chairs are designed to alleviate back and neck pain, adjust to various work stations and tasks and are adjustable and comfortable. There are even business chairs made for specific functions or job types, such as executive office chairs or secretarial office chairs. Learning how to correctly use office chairs is a crucial component of integrated furniture solutions.

When it comes to using office chairs, in many cases it's more than simply sitting down and getting to work. For instance, ergonomic office chairs have various levers and knobs to move and adjust them to fit each individual user. Unless you're sitting in old-fashioned metal office chairs or wooden office chairs, it's important to know all you can about using office chairs:

1. Learn how to use all the adjustments that come with your ergonomic office chairs.

2. Know how to position your office chairs in relation to your work stations to alleviate any back or neck problems.

3. Compare features and how to use them on different office chairs offered by top manufacturers.

Action Steps
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Get to know all the ins and outs of your ergonomic office chairs

Ergonomic office chairs come with tilt controls, backrest, armrest and height adjustments as well as swivel and tension adjusters. If you don't properly use these controls, you won't get the maximum benefit from your office chairs. Learn all you can about how your ergonomic office chairs work or, if you don't have any, learn how they do work before making a purchase.

I recommend: ErgoGenesis provides an in-depth look at the various functions of ergonomic office chairs by BodyBilt, including videos to accompany a description of each feature of these office chairs. Learn the best way to use and adjust your ergonomic kneeling office chairs, the latest in office chair technology, at Office Chair Advice.

Put yourself in the position to sit in your desk chairs and work pain-free

How you sit is a key element of using office chairs. Ergonomics is the study of work equipment and the worker and how the two can work together for maximum health, comfort and best fit. Using this science, industry professionals have determined that ideal height, distance from computer, armrest and headrest position and chair angle all work together to maximize efficiency and comfort and minimize eye strain and back and neck pain.

I recommend: Visit Spine-health.com to view an illustrated example and read extensive descriptions of how to sit properly when using office chairs. See how to best position your office chairs in relation to the equipment you're using and get a list of the best features of ergonomic office chairs and how to use them at Ergonomic Office Chairs.

See the functions of top models of office chairs and how to use them

Since you likely spend most of your day in an office chair, it's best to choose top models for comfort and adjustability. If you're shopping for office chairs and haven't made a decision yet, see how to best use a few of the top models by the leading manufacturers and decide which type is best for you.

I recommend: Go to Herman Miller to watch videos describing how to use the many features on the popular Aeron office chairs, from lumbar support to armrest and seating height adjustments. Learn how to use the Humanscale Liberty office chair by clicking on the Adjustment Instructions link for illustrated and text descriptions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep all the moving parts of your office chairs working to ensure proper use. Even simple things like wheels and armrests should be maintained, and any knobs or levers repaired or replaced if damaged.

The humble office chair is often overlooked. But no other piece of business equipment has a greater influence on how we feel at work, both physically and mentally. The wrong chair can cause a host of maladies, including lower-back problems, which is one of the most significant contributors to lost productivity in the American workplace.

Fancy office chairs start at about $700, but you can often save significantly on the upscale models by doing a little Web searching. Moreover, lower-end models can be just as comfortable and ergonomically correct, and are available for about $150 to $300. Things to look for in an office chair:

1. Adjustable height, depth and tilt
2. Lower-back support
3. Arm rests, if you're a big computer user

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Check out the big names in chairs

The brand name manufacturers have informative and interactive sites.

I recommend: Start your window shopping at Herman Miller, Hon, Knoll and Steelcase. Once you know what you want, you can often find bargains at sites like eBay and Craigslist. You can also scan online liquidation sites like Liquidation.com for deals.

Consider lower-priced options

Office superstores sell serviceable and relatively inexpensive chairs. Just be careful not to get something too cheap – you may regret it later And avoid chairs designed for conference-room use: They're typically not designed for prolonged sitting.

I recommend: Moderately priced office chairs are available at Staples, Office Depot, Ikea and CB2.

Research ergonomic guidelines

No matter how expensive or ergonomically correct your chair is, you can still sit in it wrong, so it's important to learn what causes lower-back problems, repetitive-strain injuries and carpal-tunnel syndrome.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Labor publishes guidelines on setting up an ergonomic workstation. You can also find ergonomic guidelines at eHow and the American Chiropractic Association.

Consider ergonomic alternatives

If you're really concerned with ergonomics and preventing repetitive-strain injuries, there are a number of alternatives to the standard office chair, including kneeling chairs, which transfer some of the weight to the knees as you sit, and exercise-ball chairs, which promote proper posture and strengthen body core (the back and the abdomen).

I recommend: Check out SitInComfort for information on kneeling chairs and exercise-ball chairs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Chairs are all about how they feel, but you can get better prices online. Try researching your options in bricks-and-mortar stores but making your actual purchase on the Web.
• •  Watch the classified ads in your local paper for notices of upcoming office-furniture liquidations.
• •  Contact the purchasing departments at local corporations to find out about upcoming office-equipment sales. Companies often sell used chairs they no longer need.
• •  Look for public-auction notices in the business section of your local newspaper. Often, you can find good deals on great chairs from bankruptcies.

It's just a chair, you might think, but if you spend most or all of your day sitting behind a desk or at a computer, you know all too well the importance of having the right office chairs. The last several years have seen many developments in business chairs as comfort, productivity and style have become the central focus of design. From executive office chairs to secretarial office chairs and even metal office chairs, you'll find many features intended to make your workday easier and more productive.

Office chairs have come a long way since the wooden office chairs our fathers and grandfathers used to sit on. Adjustability, ergonomics and even fashion have all combined to produce chairs that lessen neck and back pain and offer the most updated materials and designs. If you want the latest in features and style, it's important to keep up with office chairs news and trends:

1. Keep your back and neck happy with the latest in ergonomic office chairs.

2. Make comfort a priority by researching the latest styles and designs of office chairs.

3. Compare the latest office chair models offered by the top manufacturers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Discover how ergonomic office chairs can leave you sitting pretty

Ergonomics is a significant part of integrated furniture solutions that addresses worker comfort and health. The latest in office chairs addresses ergonomics by offering wider backrests, lumbar support, adjustable armrests and height adjustments. The new kneeling office chair is the newest innovation in office chair ergonomics, providing a knee rest that tips the hips forward and takes pressure off the lower back.

I recommend: Check out Ergonomic Office Chairs discussion of the features of the latest ergonomically-designed desk chairs from names such as Recaro and BackSaver. Read about the features and check current prices of a long list of the latest styles of ergonomic office chairs at Everything Office Furniture. Read and watch a video about a lumbar adjustment as one of the latest developments in ergonomic office chairs at ScienceDaily. Learn about the benefits and how to use kneeling office chairs at The Comfort Store.

Learn about the latest comfort features of office chairs

Generally, the human body was not meant to sit for long periods of time, so if your job forces you behind a desk or in front of a computer, you're increasing the chances of being uncomfortable. To maximize comfort, you'll find several recent features of office chairs that help to make sitting through your work day more bearable. Mesh chair backs, padding and higher backrests are some of the latest features which provide comfort throughout your long work day.

I recommend: Read a review on office chairs, from those that are virtually unusable to the most comfortable, in an online review at Slate Magazine. Get helpful hints and what to look for when considering the overall comfort of the latest office chairs at TheOfficeChairsGuide.com. View an inventory of the latest in office chairs, many with high mesh backing and soft padding, at Beyond the Office Door.

Get the skinny on the latest office chairs offered by the top manufacturers

Names like La-Z-Boy, Steelcase and Allcase are recognizable in the office chair manufacturing business, and each of them, as well as other manufacturers, are constantly striving to introduce the most comfortable, ergonomically-correct and fashionable office chairs on the market. No research of office chairs new and trends would be complete without keeping abreast of reviews and reports on what these manufacturers are currently offering.

I recommend: Check out the buying guide for office chairs offered by the National Federation of Independent Business to get word on the best features of many current models. Get ratings and reviews on many of the latest office chairs available from several manufacturers at Office Chair Advice.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep up with office chairs new and trends by visiting office furniture vendors and suppliers to try out the latest features in office chairs.

When you go to the office supply store to purchase office chairs for your business, you may see many different styles, colors and shapes. Without knowing office chair key terms, you may overlook something in a chair's description that you might regret later. Make sure the chairs you choose have all the key components listed in this guide. It's also important that you make sure the chairs are comfortable.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Levelers

Levelers help the chair move easily across the floor without wheels. Levelers also help to keep all four legs of the chair firmly on the floor. Levelers come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit almost all chairs, and typically go on straight-backed office chairs used in conference and meeting rooms.

I recommend: You can see what chair levelers look like at Lang Equipment.

Casters

Casters are wheeled devices that allow you to easily move your office chair. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Generally, you want hard wheels on carpeted surfaces and soft wheels on hard surfaces.

I recommend: For more information about casters, read the information on the State Compensation Insurance Fund.

Executive chair

An executive office chair is one that has a higher back, plusher seat and comfortable armrests. It can have leather upholstery, or a microfiber or other fabric covering.

I recommend: There are many examples of executive chairs from Everything Furniture.

Task chair

A task chair is less elaborate than an executive chair, but it still has long-term seating comfort capabilities. Task chairs come with or without arms and feature a variety of coverings. While most task chairs are regular-chair height, there are task chairs designed for tall workstations, including lab tables or drafting tables.

I recommend: Check out the variety of task chairs at OfficeChairStation.com.

Microfiber

Many of the newer office chairs have microfiber covering. This finely woven, man-made material resists stains. Many of the microfiber fabrics used in office chairs resemble suede or leather. Microfiber is available in a wide range of colors.

I recommend: Read about microfiber fabric in the white paper published by Ohio State University Extension. It also lists trade names for the different types of microfiber available on the market.

Ergonomic office chairs

As people spend more time in front of their computers, it becomes more important to find office chairs that promote good posture. That's where ergonomic office chairs come in: They have the proper back support to make working at a desk comfortable.

I recommend: Find out more about ergonomic office chairs from Spine-health.com.