CHAPTER 14 Ideal office seat

What does the ideal office seat include

Seat height:

It should be adjusted to a height that allows the feet to be at a right angle and rest on the floor so as not to interrupt blood circulation and reduce the stability of the body. The seat adjustment can be adjusted if one sits in front of the seat and adjusts its height so that the highest point of the seat is below the knee. When the surface of the seat is high enough for the person, then the muscular surfaces below the thighs are pressed on the seat by their weight, thus restricting blood circulation in those areas and creating problems (e.g. x numbness, frozen limbs etc). The height adjustment scale of a seat is between 37.5 and 52.5 cm for adults, with an average height of 43 cm, to serve the largest percentage of adults.

Depth-Width :

The depth of the seat is considered ideal when the body can rest on the back without creating a problem in the legs, either because the legs are raised and the blood circulation stops, or because the body is too far forward and the user cannot lean. with his elbows on the arms of the seat. As for the width of the seat, you should choose the seat that will allow the elbows when sitting to rest on the arms normally without effort. The seat can only provide ideal support if the user is sitting correctly, using all the depth of the seat and is in full contact with the back of the seat.

Seat arms:

The arms should provide support to the arms so as to reduce pressure on the shoulders and back. Adjusting them forwards, backwards or forwards is necessary to adapt as much as possible to the data of the user's body type. If the arms are hanging or too high, it will cause discomfort to the user and fatigue. The arms should be the right height from the seat and the right shape so as not to obstruct the access of the seat to the office

The back of the seat:

Depending on how long we sit and use the seat it is necessary to choose the type of seat back. For short periods of time, it is enough to have the correct support of the lumbar region in the back. For long hours the "demands" of the back increase. Ideally, the shoulders should be supported and the back should be adjusted in height to fit the user. It is extremely important if the seat has a special adjustment of a support mechanism in the middle (lumbar region).

Backrest adjustment: >

An extremely important element in a seat is the adjustment of the inclination of the back. It is necessary to have a permanent contact or synchronous support mechanism so that it can "relieve" the spine and offer continuous support to it, depending on the weight of the user. The synchron mechanism in addition to the simultaneous movement of the seat and back does not allow the body to slide forward. An important element in the adjustment of the inclination is the gradual intensity that it provides in the support of the spine which can with appropriate adjustment fluctuate according to the weight of the user in order to achieve the optimal functional ergonomic use.

Very important elements in the office seat are also:

• The seat upholstery construction which should be constructed in such a way that pressure points are not felt on the buttocks, even after a long seat. The polyurethane inside must have the appropriate density so that there is no risk of it sinking and obstructing blood circulation in the thighs.

• Fabric and upholstery materials must be able to breathe, ie the materials must absorb body temperature and moisture to prevent the unpleasant sensation that is created when there are changes in temperature. Fabrics should be non-slip for nkeep the body on the seat and not let it slide forward so as to create problems in the spine.

• The front end of the seat should be rounded to avoid painful pressure on the thighs and the back should be slightly raised at the end to support the pelvis.