Best type of office chair

After my back fiasco last week, I have returned to my desk only to be told by my superior to order myself a new chair.

Considering my desk is a standard office desk with no ergonomic features, and that is unlikely to change, what sort of chair would you suggest? Any favourites? Especially from those of you who suffer lower back problems?

I found one of the large fitness balls worked very well – you have no choice but to sit up or it gets very painful very quickly.
Just keep it pumped up.
Failing that make sure its one with lumbar support you can adjust and that it goes high enough to ensure your arms don’t take your weight on the desk.
Info on the HSE site about ergo, etc and what it should be.
A foot rest worked for me in addition to the above as it stops you sticking your feet underneath.

Go and sit in everyone else’s, do you have anyone who looks after this kind of stuff? Most companies order from one of the big office suppliers they might have a store you can try them out in

I started getting a bit of lower back ache so did a massive trawl of all the “what chair” threads on here (there were a lot). Ended up getting a Steelcase Leap v2 (refurbished for about 25% of the new price) which is extremely comfortable and has solved my back problem. It seemed to be the most adjustable (the v2 version also has adjustable lumbar).

My work chair is still going fine after 15 years use, only label I can find says “Therapod system”…

Hag H04 :

https://www.officefurnitureonline.co.uk/office-chairs/hag-office-chairs/hag-h04-chairs/?gclid=Cj0KEQiAoby1BRDA-fPXtITt3f0BEiQAPCkqQXjmKesnfGntJa9QxlSqkdeTN3Vsx9SRw3VlIzIHUngaAq-A8P8HAQ

I have just bought myself an HM aeron cos it looks pimpy at home, but the Hag is a better seat for comfort.

sitting upright all day on a ball isn’t the best as your muscles will be working hard to keep you upright all day.

and those kneeling chairs aren’t any good either, before anyone suggests one, as they put a lot of pressure on your knees.

See if any of the local office suppliers have demo chairs or will come out and recommned/ fit you for a chair.
Occ Health nurse who does DSE assessments and I usually end up recommending a standard chair having found most people’s chairs are adequate just nobody bothers adjusting them correctly when they get them or after somebody else has used and dicked about with set up.

Stable base, 5 castors (correct castors for surface) arms if you feel need them but most are removable. Adjustable tilt seat pan and back rest so the support is where it needs to be – most standard office chairs tick all those boxes.
Edit – see if work H&S or Occ Health team will come out and do assessment?

Turner – the whole point of the ball is to make your muscles work hard to keep you upright!
Sitting in a chair all day makes your erector muscles weak and shortens the hip flexors causing back problems.

not sure if its the best but have been using rh chairs for over 10 years
http://www.rhchairs.co.uk/

previously been using aeron

It’s worth noting the hours of recommended use when buying the chair.

It’s worth noting the hours of recommended use when buying the chair.

I noticed this, but then wondered what sort of chair would be designed with less than maximum use in mind.

I mean, did someone think to themselves, ‘This chair will work well, as long as someone only sits on it for part of the work day’?

In my case, there are weeks when I am at the desk all day every day, and others when I hardly sit. It really depends on what I am doing at the time.

Turner – the whole point of the ball is to make your muscles work hard to keep you upright!

yes I know that but how many hours do you sit at your desk. Nasa recommend something like a 120 degree recline so the stresses are evenly proportioned out over many parts of your body.

According to the United States Army Public Health Command, sitting on an exercise ball can have a few drawbacks.

For example, because exercise balls lack arm rests and back supports, the upper body might not be properly and fully supported.

The UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center argues that the use of an armrest takes some strain off your neck and shoulders and makes you less likely to slouch.

The Health Command also explains that sitting in a chair in a reclined position significantly eliminates disc pressure in the back, but this position cannot be maintained while sitting on an exercise ball.

There’s no arguing with “The Health Command”…

And the answer to the OP is still Hag H04…

I had an argument with the consultant lady who tried to stop me sitting the way I like to sit. Which is like this:

but with the desk edge by my sternum, and the computer some distance away so that my arms are laid on the desk.

The flip side of that is that arm rests are most times set at a certain height.
Thats “fine” for a certain % of users.
How many on here though can say that if they sit in a chair their arms are in a relaxed position with relaxed shoulders?
Not many I bet.
Me personally – I can’t use arm rests – they basically become hip bolsters to have them in the “correct” position.
Same with the seat height – Ikea were one of the only ones who do a chair that goes high enough to put my arms in a neutral position on the desk.

not quite sure about molgrips stance there but my best seating position was with the back rest reclined a bit like that and the seat back tilted back a little, bucket seat like, feet on a footrest and a low table with keyboard and mouse on to keep me back from the main table with my monitor on, as if I get too close to the screen it messes up my eyesight. plus armrests and a lumbar half-roll to keep my back from slumping.

Best work chair was a predecessor to that Hag…

Also got a Stokke Duo at home whih I will be selling as its replaced with a pimpy aeron as the wife thought it too big.

How many on here though can say that if they sit in a chair their arms are in a relaxed position with relaxed shoulders?
Not many I bet.

me…

Sitting in a chair all day makes your erector muscles weak and shortens the hip flexors causing back problems.

This is what Deadlifts are for – sort your Erector spinae muscles out in no time….

in addition to sorting out the chair

howabout an sit / stand riser for your existing desk?

something like

http://www.ergonomics.co.uk/Varidesk.html

breaking up the day with periods of standing at the desk helped me

(I’ve a riser similar to the above in one office and desks that adjust in the other one that I work)

You must have a stupidly long back then!

This

How many on here though can say that if they sit in a chair their arms are in a relaxed position with relaxed shoulders?

Me. Sometimes that position puts pressure on my lower back, but if I get a nice recliney chair it’s ok. The ones that spring back when you sit up are best so that if someone comes around you can suddenly look alert rather than lolling around disrespectfully.

Seek professional help.
Having to live in a world full of little people saw me having to get a specialist to help with desk chair selection. It took a lot of work but it is well worth it. Mine has the ability to tilt slightly forward for working in the proper position, but tilt back slightly if doing a lot of reading etc. It also fits me and my needs, which will be different to yours.
Your employer should at least be able to access someone to do HSE Workplace assessments.

I’m with molgrips on this one

Has your superior got a budget in mind? Good chairs are shockingly expensive!

I would imagine between three and four hundred pounds.

I would imagine between three and four hundred pounds.

Crikey!
You’re going to need a strong chair to support that weight.
No wonder you’ve got a bad back. 😀

We have these posh mesh ones at work which ate very comfy. I think they cost about a grand each though. I never have a bad back, we do 10-12 hour shifts.

three and four hundred pounds

Oh well. You’ll not get a lot for that.

John Lewis have some Boss design chairs for about that money that look pretty OK.

or you could visit a back shop, see what you like, and then ebay for it !

several of the back shops have a request quote button instead of the price, a sure way to discourage buyers.

Dunno…but I went to a second hand office furniture place and bought a seat for £10 + Vat – seems to be slightly fancy – height adjustment, back part adjusts vertically and back/forth, the seat also moves forwards and back…apparently it was about £200 new…not expensive for fancy office chairs but still a bit of cash – £12 and it is now my home PC seat – all good.

Exactly, £3-400 isn’t much budget for a good chair. You’ll be amazed at how much they are

benp1 – Member
Has your superior got a budget in mind? Good chairs are shockingly expensive!

MrsT has phsoriac arthritis, her chair is £700+, assessed by Occ Health, paid for by the Scot Gov