A sedentary lifestyle already causes many health problems. If, during constant sedentary work, a person is in the wrong position, the development of serious diseases of the spine will be added to everything else. You can prevent the problem by choosing comfortable furniture and customizing it “to suit you.” For this purpose, the office chair is adjusted: the appropriate height, backrest angle and other parameters are set. The whole process will only take a couple of minutes, but will definitely make the life of an office worker or freelancer easier.
Passive office chair adjustment
Passive settings are achieved without additional mechanisms. This type of adjustment includes adjustment of the armrests. Some models adjust the position of the armrests horizontally or in height.
You can also seal the seat and back to ensure a comfortable fit, evenly distributing the load on the chair. Another mode is a sharp bend at the top edge of the chair. Neutralizes compression of the lower extremities in the area of the patella.
It is advisable to adjust the armrest so that the curvature of the elbows is at least 90°.
Gaming chair: 6 misconceptions about what it should be
In fact, most gaming chairs are almost no different from office chairs.
These are the features that gaming chairs have:
- Aggressive appearance
- Bright colors
- Pronounced lateral support
- High back
- Eco-leather (imitation leather)
- Availability of pillows for the back and neck
- Adjustable armrests
Office chairs don’t have anything other than cushions for the back and neck and a distinct appearance. At the same time, comfort can sometimes be higher, and the lack of pillows is compensated by adjustable lumbar support and headrest.
MYTH 2: DXRacer is the most comfortable gaming chair
In fact, Dixracer is the most famous manufacturer of gaming chairs in the world, but not the most comfortable. Comfort is a subjective judgment, we can only assume that the most versatile and functional chair is the most comfortable for the most players.
How to do it yourself
To adjust the parameters of the chair, you should carefully study its design. Some models do not have one or another regulation mechanism. And without them it is simply impossible to set a certain angle of the backrest, the height of the seat and both armrests.
The delivery of the furniture product should include instructions that will help you adapt it yourself. However, you can also use general tips. First you need to decide on the height of the workplace and the depth of the chair. After this, you can begin adjusting the backrest. When everything is ready, all that remains is to adjust the angle and level of the armrests.
Height change
To change the height of the workplace, you need to use the lever, which is usually located under the seat on the left side. Sit in an office chair and raise your pen. Thus, the furniture is lowered to the required level. Next, you need to place your palms on the tabletop, and if you suddenly find that they are higher than your elbows, you need to adjust the position of the chair again. To do this, stand up a little and pull the handle again: without any weight load, the seat immediately rises.
Some seat models may have a rotary adjuster instead of a lever that must be turned to adjust the appropriate seat height.
If the user cannot figure out how to lower or raise a computer chair or office chair and cannot complete the necessary steps, the problem may be:
- This is not a regular model, but a pulmonary one. To raise the chair or, on the contrary, lower it, the lever must be turned (pressed several times).
- The design has two regulators, not one. Each is responsible for a specific mechanism (raising or lowering). In this case, we recommend that you carefully study the instructions before setting up.
- The rotating arm only rotates in one direction. If the chair only rises when you adjust the seat height, you need to keep turning the knob. After a few laps it will begin to descend.
In some cases, the problem may be a design failure. For example, if the height of a chair changes only under the weight of a person (lowers when sitting and rises when standing), then the cause of this phenomenon is a malfunction of the gas cylinder. It will need to be replaced. If the lever on your new computer chair does not work properly (when pressed), it may have been damaged in transit. It needs to be inspected and fixed with pliers.
Back height adjustment
Classic lever
Rotary regulator
Pneumatic model
Backrest tilt
If there is a screw on the back of the chair, it will allow you to recline the backrest. The adjuster should be loosened by turning it slightly counterclockwise, then sitting down and leaning back and forth until you find the most suitable position. After this, you should fix the angle of inclination by turning it in the opposite direction.
Not all office chairs are equipped with screws for adjusting the angle of the backrest: cheap furniture models do not have this function.
Armrest tilt
The armrest adjustment mechanism is usually located on the left side. To adjust the height, you need to press and hold the button, then raise the armrests to the desired level and then release the pressed button.
Another question is how to adjust the tilt. This is done with a special screw. When you slide it, the angle of the armrests will change. If such an adjustment mechanism is not provided by the design, then the actions can be performed using a regular screwdriver. You must follow the instructions so as not to break fragile parts.
To work at a computer or any other activity in which a person’s hands are constantly on the table, it is necessary to adjust the height and angle of the armrests. It is important that the worker's elbows are at a 90 degree angle. If support is not required, it is best to remove or expose these structural parts so they are out of the way (lower or tilt as much as possible at a 45 degree angle).
Some office chair models also offer various adjustment options. For example, the armrests can be extended and moved relative to each other. In addition, the user can be given the opportunity to select certain modes, the number of which varies from 3 to 10.
Armrest height adjustment
Types of armrest adjustment
Scheme and operating principle of gas lift
The mechanism is located between the seat and the cross of a computer or office chair. It is a long metal pipe with a gas lift cover on top. The dimensions (height) of the gas lift depend on the type of chair itself; the seats at the top are standard, the seats at the bottom may vary. Basically, the crosspieces on the chairs are of gas lift size and marked standard. Manufacturers of chairs mainly use a gas lift marked standard; it is installed on all computer chairs; for executive chairs, a short gas lift is used, this is due to the fact that a standard gas cartridge raises the executive chair very high. The rod of a standard gas lift and the glass (tube) are longer than the short one. If the gas lift on the manager's seat fails and you cannot find a short gas cartridge, there is nothing wrong with that, you can use a standard one; all landings are identical to the short one. The only difference is the length; you simply won’t use the gas cartridge’s maximum extension; in the minimum position, the chair will be slightly higher.
Design and principle of operation
The operating principle of this mechanism is quite simple and understandable to understand. Its operating principle is quite simple. The metal casing contains a cylinder in which a rod and piston move freely. The cylinder itself consists of two reservoirs, between which there is a special valve that can be opened or closed. When the computer chair is in its lowest position, the piston is located at the top of the cylinder. When we press the lever to raise the chair, it presses on a button that opens the valve between the chambers. At this moment, gas from tank 1 begins to flow into tank 2 and put pressure on the piston, which slowly lowers, thereby raising the chair. When you release the button, the valve closes, gas can no longer move through the cylinder and the chair is locked in that position. When you sit down in the chair and press the lever to lower the chair, you open the valve again, with your weight you act on the cylinder, it goes down, the piston goes up pushing the gas back into the external reservoir, while the chair smoothly goes down. It is necessary to mention such an important part of the gas lift - the bearing, which allows the piston and cylinder to rotate around its axis, thanks to which the office chair can perform rotational movements. A large iron body serves to support the stem in the correct vertical position.
- Bearing;
- bearing support;
- piston rod;
- rubber gasket;
- seal;
- large tube;
- cylinder;
- piston;
- spindle holder;
- spindle;
- air regulator;
- internal holder;
- sealing ring;
- cone;
- adjustment button.
If a gas lift breaks down, there is no way to repair it. If the tank is damaged, replacement becomes inevitable. Be careful, the gas cartridge itself (shiny rod) contains gas under high pressure! Damage to it should be avoided. It is not recommended to open it!
Changing the seat height
The optimal seat position is determined in an upright position: its highest point should be just below the knee. In this case, in a sitting position, the elbows of the seated person, resting on the surface of the table, should form a right angle. This is the optimal position for long-term work.
Black computer chair with adjustable backrest
The “gas lift” mechanism is responsible for the height of the seat. Optimal comfort is achieved when the thighs are positioned at a 90° angle to the shin. To change the height of the desk chair, you need to use the lever, which is usually located on the left side under the seat. In a sitting position, pull the handle up. To increase the height of the backrest, you will need to stand up, then the height of the seat will begin to increase. When the structure acquires the required position, you need to make sure how correctly the product was secured. Knowing how to lower the chair, you can do it without getting up - just pull the lever.
Breathable computer chairs
Some models (instead of a lever) may be equipped with a rotary control, which must be turned to bring it to the desired position. If the owner cannot figure out how to lower or raise an office chair, one of the following will help solve the problem:
- The product has two regulators, each of which is responsible for a specific action: lowering or raising. Therefore, it is recommended that you read the instructions first.
- You may have a pneumatic model that needs to be rocked before lowering/raising.
- The rotating arm can only rotate in one direction. If the chair rises during adjustment, you must continue to rotate. After rising, it will begin to descend.
Multifunctional computer chair
In this case, the legs must have a strong support underneath them. Legs suspended in the air will not provide the necessary back relief, so the computer chair must be adjusted so that the legs are at a 90-degree angle and the heels rest on the floor or footrest.
Computer chair with orthopedic back
Computer chair – the rule of choice
Knowing the basic criteria for choosing office chairs, you can provide yourself with a comfortable and safe workplace, where you can spend a long time without back fatigue and damage to your health.
- Choosing a chair that suits your body size. All computer chairs can be divided into two categories – for adults and children. Most seats purchased according to a person's age are suitable for ninety percent of people due to the multi-function adjustment available.
- The ability to change the parameters of the chair in a sitting position - adjusting the office chair to the characteristics of your own body will be much more convenient in this way.
- The ability to adjust the seat height is a fairly important criterion when choosing an office chair. The same applies to adjusting the backrest angle. Adjust them so that the position of your body is perfectly correct and work without pain and fatigue.
- Choose a chair where the front of the seat is slightly curved down. This will ensure sitting comfort by ensuring that the back of your thighs and the inside of your knees are in a comfortable position.
- Give preference to chairs whose upholstery is made of soft, breathable and non-slip fabric. Thus, you will provide yourself with comfortable sitting, both in summer and winter.
- Pay attention to the crosspiece of the computer chair - it must be stable to ensure balance. For greater ease of use of the chair, it is very important that the cross is equipped with wheels. When purchasing, you should check their working condition.
- It is worth giving preference to a chair with adjustable armrests. To ensure that arm movements are not limited, the height of the armrests must fully correspond to the size of the arms.
DIY office chair repair: instructions with video
A modern office chair is a functional and comfortable piece of furniture, equipped with a rather complex mechanism that sooner or later fails. In such a situation, there are three options for the development of events: buy a new one, take it to a specialized workshop, or repair the office chair yourself.
As practice has shown, it is quite possible to do this work yourself. The only thing that is required from the master is strict adherence to the sequence of actions and implementation of the instructions that will be provided in this publication.
Gas lift
When purchasing an office chair for home or work, the buyer first of all pays attention to its appearance and comfort. To ensure that your purchase lasts a long time and pleases you with its comfort, we recommend choosing a model that has a high-quality gas lift, which for a chair is the main part responsible for adjusting the height of the seat.
We have long been accustomed to the fact that the chair can be easily raised and lowered to the desired height, and rotated freely - all these actions are carried out thanks to the gas cartridge. How this system works, whether it can be repaired, whether it is possible to buy a gas lift separately from the chair - we will tell you everything in this article.
Device principle
The official name of the gas lift is gas spring, which tells us that the role of the spring in this device is played by gas. A gas lift consists of two chambers or cylinders - one inside the other, between which there is a valve. Let's call the larger cylinder the first and the smaller cylinder the second. Inside the second chamber is a piston that moves up and down.
In the case when the chair is in the lowest position, the piston is at the top. You decided to raise the seat higher and pressed a special lever, which puts pressure on the button that opens the valve between the two gas lift chambers. Gas flows through the open valve from the first cylinder to the second and presses on the piston, thereby lowering it, while the chair itself rises at this time. Having raised the chair to the required height, you release the lever, the valve is blocked, gas does not flow into the chamber and the seat no longer moves.
If you need to lower the chair, you again use the lever, with which the valve opens, the body weight acts on the cylinder, gas from the second chamber enters the first, as a result of which the piston rises up and the seat lowers.
Another important part of the gas lift is the bearing, which allows the entire device to rotate 360° around its axis, due to which the chair can be rotated in any direction.
Is it possible to repair a gas lift?
Despite the simplicity of the device, it is not possible to repair it, because there is gas under high pressure inside it. Therefore, if the seat is no longer height adjustable, then you need to a new gas lift for the chair .
How to choose the right gas spring, do they have any fundamental differences? Developers and manufacturers of gas lifts took into account the fact that there are a lot of modifications of office chairs, so gas springs are produced in standard sizes that are suitable for a wide variety of chair models.
The diameter of the glass body is 50 mm, and the length of the body can vary from 165 to 325 mm, so you can always buy a gas lift of the required size. In addition, the standard for gas cartridges provides for the division of mechanisms according to the thickness of the cylinder wall:
- Class 1 – 1.2 mm is designed for a person’s weight up to 80 kg.
- Class 2 – 1.2 mm is intended for people weighing up to 100 kg.
- Class 3 – 1.2 mm can be used for people weighing up to 150 kg.
- Class 4 – 1.2 mm can withstand loads of up to 200 kg.
What parameters are adjustable?
To adjust an office chair, you need to change or adjust its parameters:
- The highest point of the seat should not reach knee level or be slightly lower. It is also adjustable according to the tabletop level. When a person sits with his hands on the table, his elbows should be bent at an angle of 90 degrees.
- Backrest tilt. It should be fixed at an angle that provides the most comfortable position for the back of a sitting person. The chair should not rest against the spine or, on the contrary, lean back too far.
- Oscillatory mechanism. This parameter is adjusted depending on the person’s weight. The larger it is, the tougher the swing must be so as not to fall.
- The height and angle of the armrests should be such that the elbows of a person sitting in a bent position touch their surface. Otherwise, excessive pressure will be placed on the fingers and supporting parts of the hands.
To determine the correct body position in an office chair, you need to follow three simple rules. First, it's a good idea to position the center of your computer monitor directly at a person's eye level—you don't have to move your neck to read the information you need on the screen. Secondly, you need to feel good support for the curve of the lower back. Thirdly, the distance from the back of the shin to the front edge of the seat should not be more than 5 cm. To check this, just clench your fist and see how it passes freely between them. If your fist presses too hard or doesn’t fit at all, your back needs to be pushed forward. If the distance between the shins and the edge of the chair is too great, it is moved back.
Seat height should reach standing knee height
The angle of the backrest should ensure a comfortable backrest position
Adapts to the weight of a sitting person
The height of the armrests fixes the position of the hands at table level
Correct adjustment of an office chair
Leg position
You can determine that the computer chair is positioned correctly by the position of the legs. When seated correctly, there will be a finger-thick gap between the thigh and the seat. If the gap is smaller, this means that the chair needs to be made lower. A good footrest will also help in this situation. The computer chair can be positioned normally, but if you are tall, there will be an increased gap between the seat and the thigh. It is better to raise the chair to eliminate the gap.
You can check the depth of the chair by trying to insert your fist between the back of your shin and the adjusted seat. When seated correctly, the fist moves freely. If the landing is too deep, then the fist will pass through with difficulty. In this case, you need to customize the product again. Some models of chairs have a lever on the right that allows you to adjust the seating depth.
Sometimes too much distance is created between the shin and the edge. This indicates that the backrest is in the wrong position. You can adjust its position using the lever. If the seating problem cannot be solved, you will have to use special pillows and pads for the chair. It is enough to purchase an orthopedic pillow to prevent lower back pain and other problems.
How to adjust the backrest
The height of the back of the chair provides support for the back and arches in the lower back. To adjust its position, you must first sit correctly. The above instructions should have already been completed. Changing the position of the back of an office chair without adjusting the height is useless: the fit will still be incorrect.
Once you have the correct position in the chair, you need to adjust the backrest so that it supports your back and does not create an excessive forward or backward lean. The position adjustment is carried out as follows:
- it is necessary to use the screw on the back of the chair to raise the backrest to the limit;
- then you need to sit on the chair and change the position of the screw until the backrest is in the correct position;
- If the product does not have an adjustment screw, you will need to use orthopedic products.
In addition to the height, the correct backrest angle must be set. Once the back of the office chair is at the desired height, you can adjust the angle using another screw. The tilt of the backrest is determined by the position you choose. While sitting in this position, you should feel like the chair is supporting you. Tilt adjustment is not available on all models.
Correct fit
If you set up your computer chair correctly, the monitor will be directly at your eye level. In some cases, it is worth choosing a different chair. It is recommended to pay attention to models in which the back and armrests are adjustable with screws. The structure must have an anatomical shape.
There should be a curve at the front of the seat. The back should also have an anatomical curve that supports the lower back. Stability while sitting will be ensured by a reliable five-pointed stand. This design is convenient for adults and children.
Design
This mechanism is located between the seat and the wheels and is a long metal pipe covered with plastic on top. Outwardly, it resembles the body tipping mechanism of a dump truck. In essence, their operating principle is the same, however, only its dimensions differ significantly from dumping mechanisms to a smaller extent. Often, a gas lift for a chair has in its design a pneumatic cartridge measuring 13-16 centimeters (depending on the type of chair itself). The higher this value is, the higher he can raise the chair.
Top gun with swing amplitude ZY-168-2
Add to cart 1,950 RUR
What other additional mechanisms exist in nature?
In addition to the above, the chairs may contain:
- Multi top gun , or top gun deluxe , or DMSL - this is a more advanced version of the top gun from the point above. The difference from the basic top-gun mechanism is the presence of a lever for fixing the chair in any convenient position. Actually, this is what makes it “luxury”.
- “Anti-shock effect” is a mechanism that independently smoothly returns the chair to its working position after unlocking. This means that you do not receive a sharp push in the back from your favorite (or no longer?) chair, but calmly return to your working position.
- A slider is a device that regulates the depth of the seat (it can “move” back and forth and lock in 5 different positions, moving the back of the chair further away or closer to you).
Phew, figured it out! And now – our TOP 8 most popular office chairs – look, study, buy!
