A complex group of muscles works together to hold your body upright. They support your spine, allowing your body trunk to twist, bend, and move in different directions. Prolonged sitting in a desk chair has most people slouch after a while, impacting the lower back. This may cause overstretching of the spinal ligaments, strain to the discs and other structures surrounding the spine. Spinal structures can get damaged due to prolonged sitting in the wrong posture, contributing to severe back pain.

Sitting comfortably on an ergonomic chair will ease the strain on your shoulders, back, legs, and arms, improving your back’s health and general comfort. A swivel desk chair means that your mind is free to concentrate on your tasks instead of worrying about back pain. It offers you the benefits of tilt functions, built-in lumbar support, and adjustable heights that your body will appreciate due to enhanced comfort.

Swivel Desk Chair Comfort

The standard measure is that the seat should not feel too soft or too hard and your shoulder blades and lower back should feel well supported when you sit back in the chair. When selecting a swivel desk chair, look for the dynamic back option. It allows you to recline and move in the chair; a static back will constrain you to only one position. Here are other ways of ensuring the chair is adjusted correctly:

Elbow Positioning

Once you acquire your swivel desk chair, you must adjust it to your physical proportions to make it as comfortable as possible. This ensures minimal stress on your spine. When seated, your elbows should be at a 90° angle when your hands rest on the work surface.

Eyes Positioning

Here’s a simple test to ensure your swivel desk chair is rightly positioned. When seated comfortably at your desk, if your eyes don’t gaze at the centre of the computer screen when your head is facing forward, either the computer or the chair needs adjustment to minimise strain on your upper spine.

Calf Positioning

Press your butt against the back of the chair and try passing your clenched fist in between the front of your chair and the back of your calf. Not being able to do so with ease means you need to adjust the backrest by moving it forward and inserting lumbar support, which could be a towel, cushion, or pillow.

Back Positioning

When you slump forward, you apply extra pressure on your lower back structures, particularly the lumbar discs. An appropriate swivel desk chair will have a cushion that slightly arcs your lower back when your butt is pressed against the back of the chair. Be mindful of your sitting position, always ensuring not to slouch down or slump forward.

Thigh Positioning

The adequate space between your thigh and swivel desk chair should be finger width. If it isn’t, either raise the chair height, adjust the work surface, or prop your feet on a changeable footrest.

Additional Features

You can opt for a swivel desk chair with a headrest, which reduces strain on your shoulder and neck upon reclining in the chair. You may also get the adjustable armrests option; it’ll help protect your back and knees from unnecessary strain. They need to be sturdy enough to balance your weight. Some swivel desk chairs have armrests that you can adjust in several ways: either backward or forward and angle out and in, with the option to move the arms when not in use.