When it comes to proper sitting posture, we have almost always heard this: the straighter you sit, the better. And if we compare that to slouching, or to a forward head and rounded shoulder posture when sitting on your ergonomic chair, sure—straighter is better.

However, do you know that there is something even better than a straight sitting posture? Yes, there is—it’s reclining. But isn’t reclining for rest, you might ask. And wouldn’t it affect your access to and view of your computer monitor? Well, those things are true. However, there are certain conditions you can follow to ensure that you mitigate those situations while getting the most out of reclining on your ergonomic office chair.

First things first: How is reclining on your chair better?

To answer this, perhaps let us start by asking why sitting straight in an ergonomic chair is not at all the perfect posture that many people thought it to be.

In fact, prolonged straight sitting can cause back pain. When you sit up straight for hours, your spine has to carry the weight of your upper body, and this puts a lot of stress on the spine and the spinal muscles. This can lead to the wear and tear on the spine and can be a risk for developing degenerative spinal conditions.

According to the Ergonomics Health Association, “Sitting in a 90 degree angle for lengthy periods of time means that the spine is being compressed with gravity. Spinal compression with no rest breaks can reduce synovial fluid in the vertebral discs, causing spine bones (vertebra) to collapse and rub into each other.”

This condition is a leading cause of several spinal problems, including nerve pinching and disc herniations.

Now, reclining on an ergonomic office chair is better in that it takes off some of the load of the spine, transferring it to the chair, and it frees up your spine from all the stress of having to carry the weight of your upper body.

The benefits of reclining in an ergonomic chair

Given the relief that reclining gives for your back and spine, you can expect several benefits. Check out the following:

• Reclining reduces pain on both lower and upper back
• It also helps allow nutrients to continue to go into the intervertebral discs
• Reclining also opens up the chest and airways, helping improve breathing

What is the right way to recline?

You might think that reclining on your ergonomic office chair is as straightforward as it sounds, and in fact it should be. But how much recline do you need? Too much and it might limit your access to your keyboard and perhaps keep you from properly seeing the texts on your screen. Too little and you might not get the positive effects you are hoping for.

When reclining on your ergonomic office chair, there are ideal degrees of recline that ergonomic specialists recommend. Consider these two:

• If you are reclining on an ergonomic chair with a headrest to support your head, neck, and shoulders, then a 125 to 135 degrees of recline is advisable.
• If, however, your ergonomic chair does not have a headrest, then about 110 to 115 degrees of recline is advised so as not to get you too far from the keyboard and monitor.

With the proper recline, you can maintain good posture while staying comfortable in your chair even if you have to sit for a little longer.

Finding the right ergonomic chair: Recline features to check

When looking for a new ergonomic office chair, among the first things you must check are the recline features of the chair. Don’t forget to look into the following:

Recline or tilt angle

The backrest of ergonomic chairs is usually designed to recline, and each chair may have a different range of recline. Check the range of your chosen chair to see that it will match your preference and your usual activity on the chair.

Recline lockability

This feature is often paired with the recline angle of an ergonomic chair. Check the number of lockable points available and at which angle/s they lock to ensure that these are in a position that will be comfortable for you.

Recline tension

This refers to the level of tautness of the back support. The more taut it is, the more support you will get for your back. However, for moments of rest, you will need a more relaxed support to give your back some break and alleviate the pressure from sitting for too long.

When shopping for a new ergonomic chair, don’t forget to check the above features, as well as other supporting features such as the armrests, headrest, and the seat pan.

More important than this, be sure to observe proper posture when sitting on your ergonomic office chair or when standing at a standing desk. A combination of the right chair features and the correct sitting posture will go a long way in keeping you comfortable and pain free.

Looking for the right ergonomic chair? Browse through our catalog here at MotionGrey to find the right one from our array of high-quality ergonomic chairs.

About Us

MotionGrey is a Canadian standing desk company that specializes in ergonomic furniture. We supply and install only the best quality standing desks and ergonomic chairs in the country. We offer free shipping within Canada and the US.

What made you switch to standing desks? Our products are designed with wellness as the focal point. From our electric standing desks to our office and gaming chairs, we deliver best value by putting your health, safety, and comfort as top priority. Boost your creativity and level up work performance. We want you to create great outcomes so we’re providing you only the best tools to make them possible.

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