You see the word “ergonomic” used to describe products lite everywhere, including our ergonomic chairs at Support Design . But what is ergonomics, really? We asked Gunilla Tapper, an occupational physical therapist and certified ergonomist atHälsolänken
. “Ergonomics is about using the body as the tool it is, in a healthy way, 24 hours a day,” says Gunilla. “It’s about keeping your body healthy at work, but also at home while doing the dishes.”
Gunilla advocates for a holistic approach—being attuned to your body and using it effectively both at home and at work. But ergonomics is a term that’s sometimes misused. “I get really annoyed when I see ads for products described as ergonomic, like shoes. All feet look different, so how can they know that the shoes will fit me specifically?”
Gunilla believes there are certain things we can all keep in mind in our daily lives to feel better and avoid back pain.
“We need to start understanding how our backs work—that’s the most important thing,” she says. “Taking the time to tune in to our bodies and learn what’s happening in our backs. If you were to remove the disc between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae and place a scale there, it would show that there’s a weight of perhaps 30 kg at that point—it’s important to understand how it can affect you if you distribute that weight incorrectly, or perhaps don’t shift it forward properly. For example, it’s very helpful to be able to adjust the angle of the chair’s seat while you’re sitting and working.”
Here you’ll find ergonomic chairs that help you feel good at work
