Margaret spent three years looking for a chair. But after replacing her hip and experiencing lower back pain, 72-year-old Margaret needed a chair that would support her body for years to come. What she learned after years of sitting in “supportive” chairs was hard.
She’s in recovery from injuries she got sitting in her own furniture. Modern life is full of novel demands on our furniture. Australians are spending more time at home than ever before and they expect their furniture to support them, to provide comfort, even to be beautiful. But the furniture we’ve grown accustomed to can have unforeseen effects on our health.
The foundation of proper support
For long use chairs, lumbar support is an important factor in chair comfort. Supporting the lower spine to its natural shape is vital. We also recommend that the lumbar support is positioned approximately 15-25cm above the seat height. If there is no lumbar support the spine will sit flat against the backrest placing unnecessary strain on the muscles creating ‘pressure points’.
Lumbar support alone isn’t enough.
When evaluating a chair, take a step back and consider the overall shape of the back. A good chair will follow the natural S-shape of the spine, supporting both your lower back and the area around your shoulder blades. It’s quite common for chairs to support your lower back well enough, but by failing to adequately support higher areas of the back, encourage you to lean forward through your head to compensate.
Seat depth and width considerations
A common mistake people make when choosing a chair is selecting a product that is too deep. While the chair may look inviting, sitting with proper lumbar support and having legs elevated too high can be difficult to achieve. Alternatively, a chair that is too short in depth can cause users to not receive sufficient thigh support and put abnormal pressure on their lower back.
In determining whether or not a stool is suited to your needs, consider two main factors: first, the seat depth which should have a minimum gap of two to four centimetres between the underside of the seat and the back of your knee when you sit right back in the stool. Second, the width, ensuring that there is sufficient space for you to move your hips comfortably.
Adjustability and movement features
Static seating is badly designed for the human body and we are not designed to remain static for long periods of time. Our seating furniture should support us and encourage movement, that is until it is no longer required. We look for quality recliner chairs that allow us to change position over and over again. In addition we require recliner chairs to be offered in a number of positions or configurations.
We normally associate recliner chairs with comfort for relaxation. They make watching TV easier and can even be more comfortable than sitting upright in many cases. In addition to this they can also help reduce pressure on the spinal discs by allowing the body to adjust to different positions. They can also aid in circulation. Many recliners also lock into place at different angles and research has indicated that reclining a chair by fifteen to twenty degrees reduces pressure on spinal discs more than sitting upright.
Footrest elevation is another way to enhance comfort while using the product. By improving venous return, it helps to prevent swelling and fatigue of lower body parts.
Rise assistance mechanisms
Standing up from sitting down can be harder for some people. This is often people who are older or less mobile.
All chairs are designed with a barrier to independence – you have to push yourself up from a seated position because, being seated, you are at a disadvantage. Most wheelchairs solve this problem by using a lift mechanism. This works by tilting the whole seat forward whilst lifting it up. This action transfers the person’s centre of mass over their feet enabling them to easily stand up, requiring less effort than from a conventional chair.
See also: Essential Home Maintenance Tips
Material choices that matter
While the upholstery of a couch may seem like a minor detail to some, there are definite differences in terms of comfort and durability between different options. Most buyers look at the upholstery as a cosmetic element and choose based on colour and style. However, it is also important to look at the fabric for breathability and whether it will keep the furniture cool, or if it will absorb any moisture and prevent mildew and odour from building up. Our cushions come in two different designs. The memory foam cushions conform to your body and provide the ultimate in comfort, but they can get hot. Our high-density foam cushions are cool to the touch but provide the same level of support and comfort. Even after years of use, they will maintain their shape and provide you with years of superior seating.
Leather offers the advantage of being durable and easy to clean but can be hot in summer. More comfortable options are available in a variety of fabric materials, including man-made synthetic blends that resist spots and stains, and natural fibres offering the ultimate in breathability.
The frame construction of the chair is a major factor and is a lot more important than how the chair looks with a hardwood veneer. A chair with a hardwood veneer looks good but a chair with a solid inner frame work will last longer. Also the mechanisms which allow the chair to move up and down are designed to be durable and the steel used is of the highest quality from leading components. It is smoother than plastic used by other manufacturers. Although you can’t see this, it can make a world of difference.
Sizing for individual needs
When looking for supportive seating it is important to consider that there is no one size fits all solution due to differences in height of users. Even when looking at a range, there will be different ways in which each chair is used by users of varying heights. For example, a chair that suits a 1.8 metre tall individual well could cause pressure points for a 1.6 metre user.
Weight capacity extends beyond simple durability.
Chairs with a higher weight capacity do not simply achieve this by adding a thicker pad. Chairs with a higher weight capacity do not just mean heavier users are supported well, higher capacity chairs use more robust mechanisms and superior weight distribution engineering to provide a comfortable and reliable operator experience for users of all weights. This results in a smoother, more reliable chair with a longer operational life. Manufacturers usually keep this important fact from their customers.
After months of searching for just the right chair to support her elevation and provide proper lumbar support, Margaret found a chair that is solidly built and just right for her needs. The search for quality supportive seating is not about the widgets used to make the product, but about finding furniture that meets specific physical needs. This chair doesn’t advertise itself with over hyped, misleading marketing claims. It simply exists to provide the correct support for her body to rest upon while at the same time allowing her to easily get up and about as she pleases.
