| One of the perks of starting a home based | | | | ill-fitted chair produces too much pressure |
| business is that you get to design a home | | | | on the lumbar region of the spine causing a |
| office. One room of your home should be | | | | serious lower back ache. When choosing your |
| dedicated to all of your work. Since you will | | | | chair, decide which is more comfortable-a one |
| be spending a lot of time in this room, the | | | | piece construction or an adjustable seat back |
| most important accessory is a good chair. | | | | chair. The chair should provide adequate |
| | | | support during all of the activities |
| When working at a desk where you will be | | | | performed at the desk. An adjustable seat |
| sitting for long periods of time, the first | | | | back allows you to raise or lower to support |
| consideration is ergonomics. The science of | | | | your back at the right spot for proper body |
| ergonomics deals with stresses on the body in | | | | alignment. |
| the workplace setting. To maintain a healthy | | | | |
| body, safe postures must be observed to avoid | | | | 3. Arms or no arms? On most chairs the arms |
| unnecessary strain on muscle groups and | | | | are fixed at a specific height. Leaning on |
| joints which could lead to injury. The last | | | | armrests that are placed too high for you |
| thing anyone wants is for their new business | | | | causes the shoulders to remain in a hunched |
| to do them in. Companies have developed | | | | position. This adds strain to the muscles of |
| ergonomically correct office equipment and | | | | the neck and shoulders. Adjusting your chair |
| accessories to help you to protect yourself. | | | | to the correct height in relation to the |
| Now that we know why it's important to choose | | | | height of the desk alleviates the need for |
| a comfortable chair, let's consider a few | | | | arms on the chair. A keyboard rest supports |
| things when shopping for one. | | | | the wrists and forearms without adding |
| | | | pressure to the above mentioned muscle |
| 1. Find the right store. Lots of places sell | | | | groups. An alternative would be to purchase a |
| chairs, but all stores are not created equal. | | | | chair with armrests that are adjustable. |
| Any old chair will not provide you with the | | | | |
| support that you will need for long periods | | | | 4. Leather or microfiber? Leather looks great |
| of time spent at the computer. Visit an | | | | in an office, but how comfortable is it? A |
| office store such as Office Depot, Office | | | | microfiber chair will probably keep your body |
| Max, or Staples. These stores specialize in | | | | cooler in the long run. Leather chairs are |
| office furniture. Their selection of office | | | | also more expensive. |
| chairs will be wider and more varied than a | | | | |
| department store. | | | | A comfortable chair can make all the |
| | | | difference to your day. Choosing an |
| 2. Consider your back. I don't know about | | | | appropriate chair in conjunction with |
| you, but the first thing I notice after | | | | ergonomic principles will keep your body |
| sitting for a long time in a chair is how | | | | healthy while you work. |
| much my back hurts when I get up. An | | | | |