Purchasing guide: Choosing the best ergonomic office chair

The average working day lasts 7 to 8 hours. An office chair is therefore one of the most important pieces of equipment in an ergonomic workstation. In recent years, ergonomic research has improved comfort and health of staff at work through the development of numerous ergonomic office chair solutions. This range includes two main categories of chairs: the ergonomic standing chair and the ergonomic kneeling chair. 

Why switch to an ergonomic office chair? 

Ergonomic chairs have proven their worth in offices and workshops alike. They have a positive influence on the well-being of staff by significantly reducing back problems. 

The main advantage of an ergonomic chair over a conventional office chair with armrests and castors is that it offers a greater range of movement, more points of support for the body and therefore less strain on the lower back, which preserves muscle tone. 

Furthermore, the ergonomic office chair improves the productivity of employees by enabling them to adopt a more suitable posture for their recurring tasks, thus reducing work stoppages due to back pain, herniated discs, or sciatica. 

Ergonomic office chair: 2 different approaches to consider depending on use 

The ergonomic standing chair and the ergonomic kneeling chair don’t have exactly the same function. 

The ergonomic standing chair 

The secret of these new generation chairs is a higher seating height, which provides a more natural posture for the back by promoting good curvature of the spine and better distribution of effort when handling objects. 

The aim here is to offer an intermediate position between standing and sitting. It’s a rather surprising formula, but one that meets with unanimous approval among users. 

All our models of standing chairs are height-adjustable and can be adapted to all types of desks. 

The ergonomic kneeling chair 

This solution, which hails from the Nordic countries, tilts the body slightly forward to relieve the curvature imposed by the backrest of a conventional office chair. The body rests as much on the seat as on the thighs and knees, but with greater freedom of movement. 

This type of chair has several advantages: 

• It better distributes the weight between the thighs and knees; 
• It straightens the back; 
• It offers lumbar support; 
• It improves muscle tone. 

Contrary to what you might think, kneeling chairs are very comfortable and can be used as an alternative to an office chair for a full working day. They enable you to vary your posture over the course of a long day, protecting your lumbar region. This ultimately improves concentration (and therefore productivity). 

Standing or kneeling: which ergonomic chair should you choose? 

While these two solutions have similar advantages, they are not necessarily intended for the same uses: it all depends on the position and the tasks performed. 

The choice of an ergonomic standing chair is particularly suitable for people whose job requires them to get up and move around frequently. This solution provides a great deal of freedom of movement for the shoulders and back. It is therefore a good choice for improving comfort on a production line or for equipping workshops, shops, or places open to the public. 

The ergonomic kneeling chair is best suited to replace a traditional office chair in a more sedentary position, as its height is ideal for working at a desk. It offers improved comfort while involving the use of all the muscles in the back and legs. 

Which model of ergonomic office chair should you choose? 

The choice of ergonomic chairs depends, of course, on its price… And its use! Visit our ergonomics shop and discover a wide range of ergonomic office chairs for all uses and budgets. 

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get the right equipment: Manutan offers entry-level ergonomic office chairs that will have a beneficial effect on your staff’s posture and health at work. You can also find more sophisticated models among our selection. 

Then it’s the coatings, the adjustment possibilities and the optional extras that make the difference. Some ergonomic kneeling chairs are mounted on rocking feet, like a rocking chair. This option is not a gimmick: by offering additional freedom, it helps you to gently use your muscles throughout the day and enables you to focus on a task without straining your joints. 

When it comes to ergonomic standing chairs, the price is also influenced by the adjustment options and the type of materials used for the base (aluminium, plastic, steel, etc.) and the seat (polyurethane, foam, fabric, mesh, etc.). 

Finally, don’t forget the look! The ergonomic office chairs you buy need to fit in, in terms of design and colour, with the aesthetics of the premises. Manutan offers various models, from classic black to the most colourful. 

Ergonomics at work is not just about office chairs! 

The choice of workstation equipment is crucial for both physical and mental well-being. Besides office furniture, you also need to consider ergonomic accessories to improve the comfort and productivity of your employees. 

These efforts to improve working conditions are an integral part of a company’s CSR strategy, along with gender equality, responsible purchasing and managing the environmental impact of its business.