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.

Below we are going to be taking a look at some of the features that a person should be looking for if they are considering buying such a chair. Unfortunately these do not come cheap and so it is important that you choose the right one. The main features that you should be looking for in a good ergonomic office chair are as follows.

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 Width and Depth - A good quality office chair whether ergonomic or not should have a seat that is 17 to 20 inches wide. Any more or less than this and often the person will find such a chair very uncomfortable to sit on. As for the depth of the chair this again should help to place you in a position which results with a gap of between 2 and 4 inches being present behind a person's knees and the front of the seat.

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. Backrest - A good backrest on an ergonomic office chair should be between 12 and 19 inches in width. Also if the one that you are looking at comes with a backrest that is separate from the seat of the chair then controls (levers) should have been provided so that you are able to adjust both the angle and height of it. But for those that are all in one then they should have a mechanism that allows you to move it backwards and forwards to varying angles. This mechanism then should lock in place once you have found the ideal seating position for you.

5. Armrests - If you are looking for a chair with armrests again this must be able to adjust and will allow you to rest your arms comfortably, which in turn allows your shoulders to be placed in a much more relaxed position. At all times your elbows and the lower part of your arms should be resting lightly on them whilst your forearm should be off them when you are typing.

By keeping the above points in mind you should easily be able to find the right type of ergonomic office chair for you. One that will provide you with ample support and will help you to maintain a good posture whilst sat in it. Don't forget it should also be comfortable. Therefore if you can try a few out and it may be advisable to see if you can actually try out one for free for a few weeks.