| Ergonomics continue to play a role in the workplace as | | | | Tuberosities, commonly called "sitting bones". |
| workers complain of physical fatigue after being | | | | Contoured seats that are padded with a full coverage |
| stationary during the workday. It's easy to understand | | | | layer of foam (2" thick) as the main element also |
| why the seat pan is the most crucial component of a | | | | benefit if two other layers of higher density foam |
| comfortable and ergonomically functional office chair. | | | | (½" thick) are used to absorb the highest |
| Whenever the seat becomes uncomfortable you | | | | pressure points of sitting. The high-density foam |
| begin to squirm, sit improperly and lose the benefits of | | | | virtually eliminates "bottoming out" so common with the |
| other chair features. Recently, leading office chair | | | | flat seat designs. |
| manufacturers reported that a contoured seat design | | | | A differentiator for the contoured seat includes two |
| was studied to be the most comfortable seat pan for | | | | unique recessed areas within the seat itself. The first |
| long term sitting. | | | | recessed area is created with the heavier foam |
| Office Supply distributors are beginning to retail office | | | | positioned further down to the bottom assuring the |
| chairs from the major chair manufacturers that market | | | | seat does not bottoming out. Ergonomic Specialists |
| a contoured seat with multiple foam layers that are | | | | refer to this large recess as the "Ish-Dish" because it |
| varied in densities and thicknesses. This reduces the | | | | addresses the high impact of sitting on the Ischial |
| seat pressures where the highest pressure points of a | | | | Tuberosities. The second recessed area is at the back |
| person's seated posture can lead to discomfort. The | | | | edge of the seat and creates the softest spot on the |
| Ergonomic Center of North Carolina recently | | | | entire seat surface for the Coccyx (tail bone) area, |
| confirmed the benefits of mitigating seat pressure. The | | | | known to be a very sensitive spot. |
| study proved that a contoured seat reduces seated | | | | In summary, office workers do not have flat bottoms, |
| pressure better than flat seats. The surface | | | | so why buy office chairs with flat seats that do not fit |
| contact-weight distribution is reinforced due to the | | | | the human body. A flat seat becomes uncomfortable |
| wrap-around effect in the thigh area which disperses | | | | the longer the person sits, so it may behoove a |
| body weight and pressure. The pressure pain from | | | | company in investing in office chairs with contoured |
| extended sitting can be associated with the Ischial | | | | seating for their staff. |