What are the main structural features of an ergonomic chair?

Compared to ordinary chairs, the biggest feature of an ergonomic chair lies in its structure. Ordinary chairs have a simple design, while ergonomic chairs are more complex.

An ergonomic chair generally consists of the following six parts: [backrest, base, headrest, armrests, gas spring, and chair legs]

(1) Backrest [One of the core parts, providing spinal support]

The reason for placing the backrest first is that some chairs on the market have poorly designed backrests. While occasional use is fine, prolonged use of poorly designed chairs can damage the lumbar spine. Backrests are mainly divided into two types: the mainstream one-piece single-back chair (this is the most common type abroad) and the domestically popular partitioned double-back chair.

The advantage of a one-piece chair is that it provides stronger support for the lower back. Some lumbar support pillows can also be adjusted in height and pressure. The disadvantage is that its fit to the spine is not perfect. Note: Avoid chairs with exaggeratedly curved backs (designed to attract attention), as they are very uncomfortable and cause significant lumbar pressure.

This type of sectional backrest design is more common in China and less so abroad. The advantage of this design is better spinal alignment and ergonomics.

The disadvantage is that some ergonomic chairs have self-adjusting lumbar supports, which may not provide sufficient support for heavier individuals, making them feel too soft.

Another important point is that some chairs have very pronounced lumbar curves, resulting in an uneven transition between the upper and lower backrests. This can feel uncomfortable and digging into the back. Those unfamiliar with ergonomic chairs might think this is normal, but it's misleading. If you find your ergonomic chair uncomfortable (it takes time to adjust, ideally a week), it's definitely not your fault, and you should discard it. Avoid damaging your back, especially if you have a history of spinal issues. I will emphasize this point later when discussing avoiding pitfalls when buying ergonomic chairs.

(2) Base [One of the core components, providing hip support]

The base mainly consists of three parts: seat cushion, control panel, and chassis.

① Seat Cushion: The seat cushion material can be divided into two types: mesh and sponge. Mesh is further divided into high-resilience and low-resilience types. High-resilience mesh: The mesh is soft and comfortable, but it is not suitable for heavier people (those over 90kg; some poorly made meshes can be uncomfortable even for 80kg). Heavier people will find it too soft. Low-resilience mesh: It is firmer and more suitable for heavier people. Good low-resilience mesh can help maintain proper posture.

Sponge: Sponge is similar to high-resilience mesh, with high softness, suitable for winter, but too stuffy in summer. However, it should be noted that some sponge chairs have a lot of original sponge inside the seat cushion, so the softness is not as soft as you might imagine. These are more suitable for heavier people, as they won't sink directly into the seat.

Regarding seat cushions, in summary: Heavyweight individuals are not advised to choose chairs with high-resilience mesh fabric (those claiming to use imported mesh).

② The difference between lever control and cable control is that cable control is more convenient and smoother. High-end chairs use this type, so you don't need to worry about it.

③ The chassis is mainly divided into [self-weighting chassis] and [manually adjustable chassis]. It's worth noting that a significant number of high-end chairs use the self-weighting chassis.

What does this mean? It means it automatically adjusts the reclining force based on your weight. However, this isn't ideal for people who are too light or too heavy. If you're too light, it's difficult to lean back; if you're too heavy, the reclining force is too weak. Therefore, this self-weighting chassis isn't that intelligent (more of a gimmick than practical). Therefore, it's recommended that lighter individuals (under 60kg) or heavier individuals (over 90kg) choose chairs with manually adjustable reclining force.