Choosing the perfect fitting chair for your health

What are the health benefits of a chair that fits just right? We are proud to have worked with the University of Leeds and Dr Andrea Utley, Reader in Motor Control and Learning in the School of Biomedical Sciences to undertake a research study looking into the physiological impacts of sitting in a HSL chair that fits you.

The research was conducted in Spring 2023 and used a wide range of participants (across gender and age) who all spent equal amounts of time sitting in 3 different sizes of our Burrows Relax chair. The research was commissioned by HSL,and carried out completely independently by the University of Leeds with no influence or input from HSL.

We know that our Exclusive Chair Fitting Service ensures that customers are fully supported in the seven key areas of their bodies but we wanted to know if there was a real scientific health benefit to sitting in the correct size chair, and the research found that there is.

A HSL chair that fits you can provide a number of benefits, from reducing fidgeting to helping maintain good posture. Dr Utley explains the effects the strain of not sitting in a correctly sized chair can cause:

“Research conducted at the University of Leeds has shown that sitting in a chair that is an appropriate size for an individual has a number of benefits. Even sitting involves physical effort and if the chair is the right size the physical effort is reduced. This results in a number of physiological benefits and ultimately a restful sit and reduction in fatigue.”

• Reduces your blood pressure by 10%
• Reduces your heart rate by 6%
• Increases tissue oxygenation by more than 2%

These health benefits can be a boon to those at any stage of their life. Dr Utley commented on their findings:

“Across all measures both physiological and biomechanical, sitting in the right size chair produced more efficient and health enhancing results. When sitting in the right size chair, blood pressure was lower as was heart rate. Oxygen saturation was better, and participants made less postural adjustments in the correct chair. In terms of the physiological data sitting in the correct chair was statistically significant on all measures other than pulse pressure.”

At HSL we pride ourselves on providing a personalised service to help our customers find their perfect fit, whether an armchair, fireside chair or riser recliner, we aim to ensure you will be sitting comfortably and taking care of your health for years to come.

Dr Utley commented on our ethos:

“HSL provide a service that ensures a chair is the right fit for each person - our research has shown that this is a valid approach that clearly has health benefits for the individual.”

With the knowledge of the health benefits it can provide, we at HSL are keen to provide our top tips for finding a chair that fits you. We work closely with independent occupational therapist Julie Jennings Dip COT HCPC,  who approves all of our furniture to ensure that it is good for your posture. We are delighted to share Julie’s  insights on how to ensure you’re sitting optimally and comfortably.

When choosing your chair, it is important to choose one that will help to keep your head in a neutral and stationary position, to avoid tilting and straining your neck muscles.

Julie Jennings adds:

“This can be achieved by choosing a chair with a high padded back and good back support. When you lean back, you should feel that your head is fully supported, your eye line is level, and your shoulders are relaxed. This works to reduce unwanted tension in the upper body and encourages proper neck and shoulder alignment.”

Back support is an essential part of a comfortable seating experience. A chair that provides the perfect balance of cushioning and security aids in the prevention of slouching and straining the lower back.

Julie Jennings says:

“Check to see the chair supports the natural curvature of your spine, with an inward curve lower down. This prevents slouching or hunching over, realigning your posture, which is an essential element when sitting for even a short period of time.”

For the perfect hip support, your bottom should fit snugly into the base of the chair, with your lower back flush against the back of the seat.

Julie Jennings adds:

“Hip support should also be bolstered by cushioning; be sure to check that your knees are aligned with your hips to reduce any pressure in your lumbar region and lower body.”

To ensure maximum comfort and a perfect seated position, the adjustability of your chair is key.

Recliner chairs have a range of positions and angles to align your seated posture and personalise your experience to your ideal level of comfort.

Julie Jennings adds:

“To ensure your back is fully supported and a correct positioning is maintained, make sure there is no space between your back and the chair when you recline.”

Everyone is different and there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to finding the perfect chair. At HSL we offer a variety of different sizes and features, which is why we worked closely with Julie Jennings to create our Exclusive Chair Fitting Service. Our service allows us to make sure that every part of your body is fully supported, so you get the best possible fit. Our friendly and personable Comfort Specialists have all been trained by Julie to ensure that each of the following parts of your body are fully supported, giving you unrivalled comfort and encouraging proper sitting posture:

Hip Position

Bottom fits into the back of the seat.

Height

If the seat height is correct, the feet will be flat on the floor. The entire upper leg should also be fully supported so that the knee almost forms a right angle

Seat Depth

If the depth of the seat is correct, the calf should gently kiss the leg rest or allow for a flat hand to be placed between the calf and leg rest.

Width

The correct width is vital to help spread the weight across the seat. It provides pelvic stability, reduces friction and can help prevent leaning to one side.

Upper / Lower Back

The Thoracic and Lumbar area; the natural curves in the back, are supported by the chair.

Neck and Head

When the neck is supported correctly the head is not forced forward or too high above the back of the chair.

Arm Position

Elbows to fingers must be in contact with the arm of the chair. The forearm should be supported with the shoulders in their natural resting position.