No matter if you work from home or at an office you will find that it is important that you have the correct kind of chair if you want to avoid any health problems later on. The problem with sitting at a desk all day is that many people do not realize the strain that they place on their spine. So with the wrong chair to sit on a person may actually be placing additional strain on this part of their body when they don't need to. But today if you want in order to ensure that your spine and lower back are provided with the right amount of support through out the day you should be using an ergonomic office chair.

This article has been written to provide you with some advice on what you need to look for when considering buying an ergonomic office chair. It is important that you keep these in mind and don't just take what the sales person or manufacturer says at face value. Remember it is you who will be spending your time in the chair and you need one that you will feel comfortable in all day long.

1. Height of the Seat - It is important that you should be able to adjust the height of your chairs seat easily and those which have a pneumatic lever fitted to them are ideal. It is important that you are able to set the height to a position you will be comfortable. Generally the right height of the seat is one where you are able to place your feet flat on the floor and that your thighs then remain horizontal to it at all times. Also the chair should allow for your arms to be at a height that is commensurate with the height of the desk in front of you.

2. Seat Depth and Width - The seat should be between 17 to 20 inches wide and so be able to support the person sitting in it comfortably. Whilst for the depth of the chair you should be looking for one that you to sit with your back comfortably against the back rest yet still leaving you with between 2 and 4 inches of space between the back of your knees and the seat front.

3. Support for your Lower Back - Look for an office chair that comes with a good lumbar rest which allows you to adjust both its height and depth to ensure that support is provided for the lower part of the back. Ideally the lumbar rest should be in a position on the back part of the chair which will place it in line with the part of your spine where it begins to curve inwards.

4. Chairs Backrest - Today you can either get a chair that has the backrest joined to the seat or separate. But in both cases the actual width of this part of the chair should be no less than 12 inches and no more than 19. Also it should come with a mechanism which allows you to tilt the backrest and alter the height into a position that not only provides support to a person's back but also that they feel comfortable with. This same mechanism should have a feature that once the perfect angle and height has been chosen will lock the backrest in place.

5. Chairs Armrests - Although there are some office chairs which do not have armrests a large number do. Therefore if you are looking for one with armrests then you need to make sure that you can actually adjust them so that you are able to rest your arms on them easily and comfortably. At all times the lower part of your arm along with your elbows should be resting comfortably on the armrests and this in turn will help to relax your shoulders. As for your forearms these should at no time be resting on them especially when you are typing.

When it comes to buying an ergonomic office chair if you keep the points we have mentioned above in mind you should soon be able to find one that suits you perfectly. Although you can get them much cheaper online it may be advisable to go to your local office supplier first and try out a few they have before you actually spend your hard earned money. A good ergonomic office chair is a very sound investment as it will ensure that you back is well supported and you maintain the right kind of posture whilst sat at your desk.