| When looking to purchase an office chair online, more | | | | Other features with these mechanisms usually include |
| often than not you will end up finding yourself looking at | | | | manual ratchet control for back height and a seat |
| the different options/mechanisms a chair comes with. | | | | slider. The seat slider, however, is an add on for most |
| To most of us, these additional options read like a | | | | mechanisms, and not built in. |
| foreign language and most of us have to take our | | | | The knee tilt promotes keeping your feet on the |
| best guess at what they could be unless you have a | | | | ground and thighs parallel to the ground when you |
| chair expert to speak to. As with any product, it is | | | | recline, thus reducing the pressure on your thighs and |
| important to fully understand what your office chair is | | | | achieving more blood flow - more blood flow means |
| capable of in order to adjust the chair to fit your body | | | | less yawning and less feeling fatigued throughout the |
| and needs. At the time of purchase if you do not | | | | day. A knee tilt mechanism will have height adjustment, |
| understand the importance of adding on specific | | | | tilt tension and be able to lock the back rest in multiple |
| features and neglect to do so, you may be | | | | positions. The 2:1 synchro tilt option keeps your knees |
| disappointed when your chair does not fully meet all | | | | and legs in an ergonomically correct position while |
| your expectations. When you sit in your new office | | | | allowing you to comfortably recline. The ratio means |
| chair for the first time you want to be fully prepared to | | | | for every 2 degrees of back recline, the seat reclines 1 |
| be able to know how to use the mechanisms that | | | | degree, thus ensuring ergonomic comfort. Most of |
| came with your chair correctly. | | | | these mechanisms are sloped down and back, putting |
| Most value oriented task chairs or leather conference | | | | the attachment point of the mechanism and chair |
| chairs come with a standard spring tilt mechanism, the | | | | towards the front of the seat. The knee tilt allows for |
| least ergonomic option. Chairs that have a spring tilt | | | | one's feet to be grounded while leaning back instead |
| mechanism go up and down, swivel, and have one | | | | of hanging in the air, which as we all know bad for |
| locking position. A variation on these is the multi-lock | | | | your circulation and can lead to the uncomfortable |
| mechanism, which goes up and down and swivels, but | | | | sensation of having your leg fall asleep. |
| allow for multiple locking positions. The pivot point for | | | | The type of mechanism you choose largely depends |
| these is found at the center of the chair, which | | | | on the application you need the chair for. For quick |
| explains why they are not ergonomic. If you recline on | | | | tasking or conferencing purposes, where sitting is |
| a chair that has this mechanism, the front of the seat | | | | limited to around three hours or less at a time, simple |
| reclines at the same rate as the backrest, thus it puts | | | | spring tilt mechanisms suffice. Conversely, any seating |
| pressure on your thighs and limits the circulation of | | | | application where sitting duration range from 6 to 8 |
| blood. | | | | hours a day, a knee tilt mechanism is highly |
| A multi-function mechanism is the epitome of a classic | | | | recommended and preferred by most. While office |
| ergonomic mechanism. It is also known as a mid-pivot | | | | chairs with knee tilt mechanisms generally tend to run |
| tilt mechanism, as the pivot point is in the center of the | | | | a little higher in price, the ergonomic benefits that will |
| chair, but it has just enough to cross that threshold. To | | | | result from using such a mechanism will become |
| be considered multi-function, one of these mechanisms | | | | evident over time. With that being said, the next time |
| will have to have at least three paddles that do the | | | | you are searching for a new office chairs take all the |
| following: | | | | aforementioned mechanisms into account to determine |
| 1. Control the height of the chair. | | | | which will be best for your specific needs, and |
| 2. Lock the back rest at multiple angles. | | | | consider a multi-tilt mechanism if using your chair for |
| 3. Knee Tilt Control - allows the user to lock and adjust | | | | more than three hours a day or for a more |
| the angle the seat is. | | | | ergonomically correct way of seating. |