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If you're sitting at your desk all day, keeping your body properly supported and comfortable is key. Tom Oddo, D.C., president of City Integrative Rehab and author of “The Myth of the Standing Desk: Strategies for Health in the Digital Age,” shares, “An ergonomically favorable chair is important for someone who sits for long hours because it will help workers maintain good positions and prevent the musculoskeletal injuries associated with poor posture (like neck, back, shoulder, and hip pain).” The best computer chairs for long hours at your laptop or PC are designed with special features like height adjustment, contouring to support your spine, and even optional footrests.
The Expert
Tom Oddo is a New York City-based Doctor of Chiropractic and president of City Integrative Rehab. In addition to his background as a chiropractor, strength coach, and ergonomics specialist, he is also the author of “The Myth of the Standing Desk: Strategies for Health in the Digital Age,” which deals specifically with ergonomics and health for desk workers.
What To Look For When Shopping For The Best Computer Chairs For Long Hours
According to Dr. Oddo, “A chair that is an appropriate (or adjustable to an appropriate) height should allow you to sit with your feet flat on the floor and knees flexed at or above 90 degrees.” All of the options here have height-adjustable seats, but some have headrests you can move up and down, while others have height-adjustable armrests (and in one case, angle-adjustable armrests).
Avoid uncushioned metal or wood chairs that would make it difficult to sustain an upright position for an extended period of time. Instead, Dr. Oddo recommends a chair that would “allow you to feel your ‘sit bones’,” while still maintaining comfort. Lumbar support can be a useful additional feature, but Dr. Oddo advises: “It is important that you use lumbar support to help maintain good posture, not serve as a crutch to substitute for using your core to maintain an upright posture.”
Many computer chairs are made with fabric, but if you’re working in a space that tends to get hot, you may want to consider a chair with a breathable mesh back to keep the air flowing. Other chairs are made with faux leather or leatherette, and they tend to have a more upscale “corner office” aesthetic, but they may feel a bit warmer during long hours at your desk.
Good computer chairs also swivel and tilt, making it easier to move around and reach for items on your desk without straining. With all that in mind, here are the best computer chairs for long hours at your desk or gaming setup.
FAQs
What are ways to relieve back pain from sitting?
If you work sitting down or find yourself spending a lot of time at a desk or computer there are certain things you can do to prevent back pain and strained muscles. Dr. Oddo, a New York City-based Doctor of Chiropractic recommends performing “frequent postural resets” every 30 to 60 minutes. Additionally, it’s a good idea to relieve yourself by spending at least a third of your day on your feet. “Stand for communication work (like meetings and phone calls) because these activities are easy to adapt to a standing position without needing to worry about the height of your keyboard/desk,” says Dr. Oddo, who dubs this technique as “body-task matching.”
What is the best position for sitting in a chair for long hours?
Keep in mind that even the best computer chairs for long hours may not solve all of your problems. “The most important component of any ergonomic intervention is putting your body in the correct posture,” says Dr. Oddo. “Once you’re in a good position, your goal should be to orient your chair, display, keyboard, and mouse so that they help *keep you* in a good position. If you start with poor posture/position, no amount of ergonomic equipment will fix/prevent injuries.”
Follow the instructions below to achieve the best position for sitting, according to Dr. Oddo.
Head and neck upright
Head, neck, and trunk not twisted
Trunk perpendicular to the floor
Shoulders and upper arms perpendicular to the floor
Upper arms and elbows close to the body (not extended outward)
Forearms, wrists, and hands parallel to the floor (elbow flexed to 90 degrees)
Wrists and hands neutral (not flexed upward, downward, outward, or inward)
Pelvis perpendicular to the floor (neutral, not tilted forward or backward)
Thighs parallel to floor or knees slightly below hips (with space below the table surface so that they are not trapped)
Lower legs perpendicular to the floor
Feet flat on the floor or supported by a stable footrest surface
How We Narrowed Down The Best Computer Chairs For Long Hours
To help us select the best computer chairs for long hours, we conducted independent research including expert outreach. The advice from a certified Doctor of Chiropractic was used to guide our decisions in choosing certain products over others. It was determined that chairs designed with special features like height adjustment and contouring to support the spine would be among some of the best chairs for sitting for long hours. Other criteria such as materials, price, and reviewer feedback were considered as well.
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Expert:
Tom Oddo, a New York City-based Doctor of Chiropractic, President of City Integrative Rehab, and author of “The Myth of the Standing Desk: Strategies for Health in the Digital Age”