Finding the Just-Right Chair
A promising new chair plus tips for finding a great one
By Deborah Quilter
First published August 19, 1997

Goldilocks would have made a great ergonomist. She noticed the difference between the mama-, papa- and baby-sized chairs right away, insisting on the one that was just right.

Nowadays she would have the added headache of persuading people that seating should be comfortable, not chic. Adjustable, good-for-you chairs are frequently described as funny-looking, but if seating had been designed to fit the human anatomy from the start, it's the standard office chair that would get the laughs. Like many other manifestations of "progress," most chairs neglect to take our shape into account.

That said, consider the new Girsberger Xerra chair. Sitting in the chair for the first time evoked a wonderful "ahhhh" sensation. The seat is neither too hard nor too soft, and it subtly contours the thigh. The backrest meets the lower spine just where it should. The dense-foam armrests, which are shaped to cradle the forearm, gently give way in a slight up-and-down movement.

So far, it might be a wonderful chair for an executive who spends the day dictating letters and cutting deals on the phone. But what about computer users? As configured, the Xerra misses the mark in a couple of areas. First there's no pelvic tilt. The armrests slip sideways to support the forearms while typing-a big no. Another feature, the floating backrest, is both an asset and liability. Happily, all can be overcome.

Girsberger's Xerra chair has a lot of great options--and a few you won't want.

PELVIC TILT = LESS BACK STRAIN

When a chair seat is flat, it reduces the natural curve in the lower spine, compressing the vertebrae and causing lower back strain. If a chair seat tilts down, the spine stays curved, reducing strain.

A chair's pelvic tilt feature feels odd at first, like you're going to slide off the chair. But once you get used to it, it's much more comfortable than a flat seat. Fortunately, the Xerra can be ordered with an adjustable seat.

THE ARMREST: STEADY AS YOU GO

Armrests present a built-in dilemma. They're great when you want to rest your shoulders, but an injury risk if you use them to support your forearms while you compute. And if armrests are too long, they prevent you from sitting close enough to the keyboard. This design forces you to extend your arm, an exhausting position to hold for long periods.

The Xerra's optional adjustable armrests are the right length, but they slide sideways about 30 degrees in either direction. This happens when you least need it-when you bump it with your elbow. To avoid mishaps, order the standard armrest.

THE INTELLIGENT BACKREST

The Xerra backrest can be locked in place or it can move with you. Rather than collapsing under your weight, it requires a slight effort to recline. Then it tracks your spine as you lean forward again. While this "synchronic mechanism" encourages movement, you must learn how to use it properly, because you shouldn't compute from a backward-leaning position. The Xerra's lumbar support can be adjusted by moving the backrest up or down.

THE WELL-ADJUSTED CHAIR

Adjustability is double-edged sword. While you want a chair to fit your body, don't buy adjustability for its own sake. Just because the body is capable of making a motion doesn't mean it is an optimal working position.

Sometimes less is better. Don't choose a chair with synchronic movement unless you can train your staff in its proper use. Instead, consider chairs with single adjustments, such as the Girsberger Pronto.

CHOOSING CHAIRS: THE SHORT COURSE

Along with features such as pelvic tilt, adjustable height, lumbar support, and short armrests, check the following when buying a chair.

• Sit, don't look. Looking at a chair tells you nothing about comfort or adjustability. Remember, too, that a chair that feels right to you may not fit someone else.
• Ease of adjustment. You shouldn't have to turn a chair upside down, use special tools, or read a 90-page manual to adjust it. If a chair is hard to adjust, people won't bother. (Girsberger offers on-site training for corporate customers.)
• Durability. Office furniture should last for years. If the paddles on your chair break, it is no longer adjustable and becomes a risk factor in injury.

• Look for special features. A graphic designer who works at a high table has different needs than a computer user sitting at a desk. Very tall and very short people need additional height adjustments. Big folks require wider chair seats. (The Girsberger Pronto 2 fits larger employees, for instance.) Ask the manufacturer if its products accommodate special needs.
• Training. Many people with adjustable chairs don't use these features. Workers should learn how to adjust their chairs properly and why it's important.
• Avoid "executive" chairs. Like executive phones, these chairs enhance the status of the occupant. But with their concave backrests, bucket seats, and slippery upholstery, they're the corporate equivalent of a leather-draped airplane seat-one of the most uncomfortable chairs known to humans.

Xerra
Pronto
Girsberger
800/849-0545
www.girsberger.com
Street price: $380 to $400; optional features cost extra. Chairs come with a five-year warranty; there's a two-year warranty on the pneumatic cylinder. Returned merchandise results in a 35 percent restocking charge.

Return to Article Listing