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Working at a computer all day can cause strain throughout your body. Most pain and injury from sitting all day is because of any number of poor body positions. Good posture is the key to minimizing pain and maximizing productivity. The chair you use has the greatest impact on your posture, whether good or bad.

Here are some useful pointers in choosing a desk chair that supports good posture and minimizes discomfort:

First, consider the seat pan, or the place where you sit. When sitting in a chair, you should have plenty of room for your hips and a few inches to spare. Your weight should also be spread evenly across the pan to reduce individual areas of pressure, and after sitting for an hour, the chair should still feel comfortable. Make sure that the seat isn't too deep for your upper legs and that it is properly sloped so it does not catch you behind the knees.

Secondly, look at the height of the chair. For any work chair, you must be able to adjust the height. It is even better if you can adjust it while you are sitting in it to maximize proper positioning. For good posture, you chair height should allow both of your feet to rest firmly on the ground.

Thirdly, evaluate the backrest. It is imperative that an office chair have proper lumbar support. An adjustable back rest is a nice option, but not necessary. Without this feature, you need to find a chair that comfortably fits the curve of our back. It is also helpful to have a chair that will easily recline for different positions; it is hard on your body to be in a single position for an entire day.

Lastly, determine if you need armrests. When typing, it is important to support the weight of your arms, without adding strain to your wrists. The more movement you have in the armrests, the better positioning you can achieve. The height of the armrests should definitely be adjustable. When set correctly, your bent elbows should rest on them while your arms are in a relaxed position at your sides. It can also be helpful, but is not necessary, to be able to move them entirely out of the way. Occasionally typing without the armrests can decrease the pressure on the ulnar nerve in your elbow.