The Chair!

The experience of an uncomfortable chair is not a new concept and most people are familiar with this situation. On Monday I was sitting in class for more than 2 hours on a very uncomfortable chair. It was making my back hurt and I could not concentrate on the subject. I decided to do some research on how some chairs are comfortable and some are not? What is significant about the design of a chair that provides a great comfort? And why people buy uncomfortable chair?

According to an article published on Utah State University, a seat can be evaluated by the height, depth, width, slant, and contour. One of the most important aspects of a comfortable chair is the back. The back should provide support to the shoulders therefore; it has to be high enough. Also, the slant, which is the angle of the back of the chair, needs to be more than 90 degrees to support the lower back. Furthermore, a slightly curve on the back of the chair allows the shoulder blades to roll slightly forward. This curve is important; too much curve will cause damage to the muscles and less curve makes the back of the chair uncomfortable.

Comparing all these specifications with the chair I was sitting on, I discovered my chair was nothing near a comfortable chair. The back was too short and did not give my shoulders any support. The angle was 90 degrees straight which forced me to seat very straight in an uncomfortable position for long hours. But most of all the very straight back without any curve caused me a back pain that lasted all day.

Students spend lots of time on their chairs and having a very good, comfortable chair is essential for body health and also to help students concentrate in class. Most of the time, people who are purchasing school equipment, do not consider these factors because the main factor for them is the price! 

http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/HI_06.pdf