02 Jan Unique Office Chair Backrests – The Weirder the Better
When one pictures an office chair in their head there is a universal perception as to what a typical office chair looks like. This image usually includes a set of five wheels, a black nylon five-star base, a cylinder which allows the chair to be adjusted up and down, a seat, and a backrest. While this is the case for over 90% of chair models out there, there are the unique 10% that break away from the mold. The difference is most commonly found in the shape of the backrest. While these backrests may appear to be odd and out of the ordinary, sometimes when it comes to office chairs the weirder it looks the better it actually is for your back.
Independent Lower Back Support
One popular type of backrest that can be found on specialty ergonomic chairs is a backrest that is separated into two parts, one part for the upper back and one part for the lower back. The advantage to this type of back support is the independent lower back support provides extra and exacting lumbar support, especially favorable for those that suffer from lower back pain. This chair is ideal for lower back pain sufferers as they need additional support in their lumbar region that can often not be achieved with a standard back rest.
Scapular Independence
Chairs that are designed for scapular independence allow for freedom of motion for individuals around their shoulder blade area when seated. The benefit of having a backrest that tapers away from the shoulder blade area is that occupants have the advantage of being able to sit back and avoid interference that is often caused by full back rests. This is helpful for occupations that call for having to reach for the phone, different parts of the desk, for supplies, files, cabinets, etc. when seated. The overall idea of this is to promote healthier sitting postures which are often not achieved with full chair backs. This type of backrest also promotes a more active work environment as users are now able to stretch and bend without having to worry about their chair getting in their way.
Winged Backrests
Winged backrests are another unique type of backrest that are found on specialized ergonomic chairs that feature a shape that is designed to focus on providing support for the mid to lower back. With two pronounced side contours, the wing shape envelopes the users middle and lower back which works to provide back pain relief.
Spine Backrests
Perhaps the most odd-looking of all the backrests available are those that focus on all parts of the spine. This type of backrest provides the most overall back support for those that suffer from upper and lower back pain. This support is unique in that it supports all different parts of the spine through either a strap support system or individual “ribs”. The strap support system is built into the backrest, either covered or uncovered, and allows the user to pull the straps to tighten them wherever they need more support along different parts of their spine. On other chairs that have “ribs” these are located along the middle of the backrest and can be pushed in or pulled out depending on how much pressure is needed along different points of the spine. Both types of support are the best at achieving customized support for the whole back.
If you decide upon an ergonomic chair with a weird backrest, you may stand out from your coworkers but your back is likely to be feeling better than theirs at the end of a long work week.
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