Category: Work at Home

work at home describes any task, job or specialty that can adequately and satisfactorily be performed in the home without creating a hazardous or unsafe environment.

Back Support Office Chairs, Devices & Equipment


Over this past decade the number of people seeking health-related services from chiropractors have increased, in part, due to the aches and pains developed in their back resulting from improper back support. This discomfort and pain have become a natural occurrence in the lives of many people, especially those who work in offices and sit for extended periods of time in their office chair.

Almost all back problems can be stopped by ensuring that the back has proper support. We know this because there are many different back support devices and equipment available. Some offer affected individuals support for their back, while others eliminate the need for medical treatment altogether, depending of course on the severity of pain, the individual’s ability to function with reduced pain and the quality of treatments.

Back support products and treatments come in various forms, some of which can be used in combination with other support methods, while others can be used alone. Some examples of such back support products – especially for those individuals who developed the problem from their office jobs – include:

1. Inflated back supports – Devices which can be inflated and utilized with existing office chairs or other chairs used in home offices that may not provide optimum support for the back.

2. Ergonomic office chairs – Specialized office chairs which are ideal for preventing back problems by providing the kind of support required for a user’s back while s/he sits at a desk or elsewhere in the office. By switching to an ergonomic chair at home or at work, the user can help reduce the occurrence of back problems.

3. Back support cushions – Devices for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on an ergonomic office chair, and therefore will be content using a number of support cushions and pillows, which can also provide the proper support needed for the back.

4. Back support mattresses – Pieces of furniture which are available in many different brands, styles and designs, most of which are firm and offer adequate support for the back – even while an individual sleeps at night.

Risking injury to your back or doing anything that can be hazardous to your health is obviously something you never want to do. Therefore, you should always use proper back support products while you sit in your office chair or go to sleep. When you use these products, you’ll feel better than you would otherwise and you will literally feel the relief from aches and pains in your back as if they simply disappeared.

Don’t be too Casual When Buying An Office Chair


Sizing up the chair

It is a well known and undisputable fact that people come in many different shapes and sizes, a fact which cannot be understated more; but used here it emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions about office chairs before making a decision to purchase one. First you should decide how you plan to use the chair, as this will be the determining factor in the degree of comfort you can expect to get from such use.

Keep in mind that almost all office chairs come with a variety of mechanisms designed to control features like, tilting angle, tension tightness and other parts of the chair, so it may be helpful to take a look at the various types of office chairs and their benefits, including those described in the following paragraphs.

Heavy use & moderate

Heavy use chair – These types of chairs are for those who plan on sitting at their desk for long periods of time. If this this sounds like you should it may be necessary to look for a chair with a tilting mechanism as well as a fatigue reducing device on the bottom of the chair seat. Because of this device, moving forward or backward will enable the chair to move with you in order to provide support. This will also help to support your back at all times.

Moderate use chair – If you are a typical assistant manager, or you run back and forth between your desk and other areas throughout the office on any given day, you should consider getting an office chair with a knee-tilt mechanism. This allows you to lean back in the chair, while keeping your feet firmly planted on the ground. Chairs that do not have this mechanism will typically cause your feet to lift off the ground when you lean back and forth, an action which could ultimately lead to discomfort over time. Best of all, these chairs are normally more stylish than the average task chair.

A chair for the executive

Executive office chair – These types of office chairs normally have the same types of mechanical features as moderate use chairs, although they are normally larger, more comfortable, and offer more style for the executive. They are designed for the average executive who is busy running about and spends a good deal of time either on the phone or on a computer. Comfort, style, and status are the key features when deciding to buy one of these types of office chairs.

If you want average level of security, an office chair that offers the ultimate in comfort may be an ideal purchase. You can purchase a heavy use chair, as you will probably spend a good amount of time at a desk; but if you move around a bit more than normal, you may want to go with a moderate use chair, as it will provide the comfort you need when you return to your desk.

General rules for the office chair

  1. You should make sure your feet rest comfortably on the floor, and your thighs fully supported and placed square with the floor.
  2. Your back should be comfortably supported. The angle that is formed by your upper legs and torso should be between 90 and 105 degrees.
  3. When you tilt back it should be easy, although it should not be so easy that you are in danger of falling every time you lean back.
  4. The desk chair should be customized to permit frequent changes in posture.