How to Choose an Ergonomic Chair

Ergonomic chairs for back posture

Back posture is the most common problem for people who sit for many hours a day. Neck or lumbar pain is quite common, mostly due to incorrect posture: you move little, you slump on the desk or to the side, you pull your neck forward.
Varier ergonomic kneeling chairs are designed according to a simple principle. In a normal chair, the legs are typically at a right angle to the torso, which often places the weight of the body on the spine. The forward-tilted seat and kneeling of Varier chairs allow the angle to be widened and the weight to be placed on the legs. The back thus assumes a natural, upright position.

So move, move, move

A famous Italian song from some time ago said. We know that it is essential to maintain an active lifestyle, but sometimes work is static by nature. To counteract a sedentary lifestyle, you can “destabilize” the body using a seat that makes it move spontaneously thanks to the design of the shapes. The curved runners at the base of Varier chairs invite you to swing back and forth and change position often. In this way, the muscles are activated naturally: the abdominals and back muscles work to keep the back straight, the neck and shoulders unload the weight. The chest also opens, consequently you breathe more deeply, oxygenating the body and mind.

Ergonomic chair with backrest or without backrest?

The choice is subjective of course, and we want to help you make an aware decision. The first model designed by Peter Opsvik in 1979, the ergonomic chair Variable Balans , was born without a backrest and is still the bestseller of the collection. In our opinion, it is particularly suitable for young people who study, or for those who work from home and perhaps can alternate the sitting position with other activities.
For those who work at the computer for eight hours a day, we recommend the Variable Plus and Thatsit models: equipped with a backrest, they allow you to support your spine and move your arms and shoulders thanks to the shape of the cushion, which leaves the body free at the sides.

Ergonomic stools: dynamic by nature

Those who do dynamic activities and alternate between sitting and standing, perhaps also thanks to a height-adjustable desk , can consider other solutions. For those who do creative or manual work, cook or often get up to talk to customers, the Move stool is more versatile than a chair. In addition to being swivel and with an adjustable seat height, the tilting base allows you to get closer to the work surface, rotate to the sides, move the pelvis and feet. Move strengthens the core muscles of the body, keeps the abdominals and legs active. The two-size seat also adapts to all body types: for the youngest or petite people there is the Compact version, while the standard seat is perfect for those of normal or tall height.

Relax after work (but active)

The search for well-being does not end at the end of daily activities, indeed: even moments of relaxation deserve special attention. Think about how many times you get up from the sofa aching from having been in a seemingly comfortable position for too long. It is worth changing your point of view even for these moments of the day, choosing an armchair outside the box: Gravity . Designer Opsvik has taken his vision of ergonomics beyond work spaces by creating this unconventional armchair. Its shapes and four-position reclining structure keep the spine and neck always aligned, inviting legs and trunk to constantly seek the right point of balance and relaxation.