Nov
Here we will answer the question “Are Gaming Chairs More Ergonomic than Office Chairs?”
Read on to find out more.
It’s likely that you spend hours daily in your chair…
…whether you’re a serious gamer or a less enviable workaholic.
A gamer’s first dilemma when choosing an office chair is whether to get a gaming chair…
…or a standard office chair, while if you’re not a gamer…
…you probably have considered owning a stylish gaming chair.
Here I will explain the key differences between a gaming chair and an ergonomic office chair…
…in terms of ergonomics so that you can make the right decision for your comfort and health.
You can actually learn a lot more than meets the eye…
…so keep reading to discover which style is best for you.
Ross shares a few words with us…
I just bought a gaming chair that is easy to assemble…
…comfortable, and provides a lot of support and comfort.
In fact, you can even adjust the armrest distance.
If you want to use the massage function…
…you’ll need a battery pack that you can connect to the provided cord.
Now let’s get started…
How Do Gaming Chairs Differ?
As far as what constitutes a gaming chair goes, there are no hard and fast rules.
As consumer tastes and expectations change, the definition is constantly evolving.
It’s easy to spot a gaming chair a mile away thanks to its unique features.
As a comparison, standard office chairs tend to be much more muted in colors and styles…
…with seats and backrests that are more utilitarian than anything else.
Here’s the million dollar question- As a heavy or even casual gamer…
…which chair should you get, a gaming chair or an office chair?
We’ll look at each part of a typical gaming chair to compare it…
…to a standard office chair in terms of what matters- ergonomics.
Bucket Seat Design
Most gaming chairs have a bucket seat design where the sides of the seat are raised.
While it may look cool and be inspired by racing car seats…
…how does it function as far as comfort and ergonomics in your room?
When in a moving vehicle, bucket seats help stabilize the driver’s body…
…as it shifts from left to right, but when you’re playing video games, your body rarely moves sideways.
The whole purpose of gaming chairs with bucket seats seems to be optics.
The new “Need for Speed” game not only gives you the illusion of a cradling seat…
…but also gives you the feeling of driving a racing car as you race through the streets of Los Angeles.
This can be an important factor for gamers- anything that helps raise their emotions…
…and brings them closer to the action should be considered.
A bucket seat, on the other hand, serves no purpose from an ergonomic standpoint…
…and in some cases is even counterproductive. Due to the two raised sides…
…there is less seating space and less room to move around.
If you sit cross-legged with one or both feet on the seat…
…the raised sides can restrict blood flow in your feet even more than a contoured seat…
…if your feet are forced up against them. It’s also important for larger people…
…to realize that manufacturers often report the seat’s width…
…with the raised sides included…
…which isn’t an accurate measurement of the seating area available.
The standard office chair has a curved seat with no raised sides, as opposed to gaming chairs.
Also, the choice of materials is much wider.
Gaming chairs usually have seats made of PU or real leather supported…
…by high-density foam (in more expensive gaming chairs)…
…whilst regular ergonomic chairs are available in mesh, leather, fabric, etc.
Using different layers of fabric materials for its seat…
…the Herman Miller Embody creates dynamic tension zones to provide maximum comfort.
Raised Front Lip
The raised front lip is commonly found on gaming chair seats.
Similar to the raised sides on actual car seats, this design serves an ergonomic purpose as well.
Seats with elevated fronts make it easier to reach the gas pedals…
…in a car since the legs are propped up slightly.
It also helps the driver remain seated. In other words, a smart design…
…in one situation can have the opposite effect in another.
In an office chair, there is no gas pedal to the floor or brake pedal to the pump.
When sitting ergonomically, your knees should be bent 90 degrees…
…and your feet should be flat on the floor. To reduce pressure buildup…
…in the back of the legs in such a position, a seat with a waterfall edge…
…or the opposite of an elevated edge, is best.
Some gaming chairs feature waterfall design seats…
…similar to those found in standard ergonomic office chairs (like E-Win)…
…but by and large raised lips still dominate. Especially if your bottom…
…or thighs feel numb after prolonged sitting, I recommend choosing the former.
Detachable Lumbar and Head Pillows
There is no doubt that lumbar and head pillows are essential gaming chair accessories…
…but do they really serve any ergonomic purposes?
Yes, though I recommend looking for gaming chairs where the height of the lumbar pillow…
…can be adjusted (using a strap for instance)…
…in order to target the precise area of your back that needs cushioning.
Researchers studied the effects of external lumbar pillows on neutralizing the spine…
…providing comfort, and relieving lower back pain. Participants gave feedback…
…and instruments showed improvement across the board.
There is evidence that even such form factors contribute…
…to “[favorable] head and neck postural alignment” in gaming chairs…
…though the lumbar pillow used in the study had a cutout in the center for the pelvic area.
Ideally, you should look for gaming chairs that allow the lumbar pillows…
…to be adjusted up and down, as each individual’s body is different…
…and customizing the chair is the key to getting any benefits.
“There is plenty of anecdotal evidence and a few studies that back up the positive role external lumbar pillows play in aiding with posture and comfort. The fact that they are removable (and some height adjustable) also makes them more versatile than office chairs with fixed lumbar support. However, higher end office chairs still beats gaming chairs hands down in terms of providing superior back and neck support that adopt to the user’s back as he/she moves ”
Keep reading…
Winged Backrest
Game chair designs with winged backrests are another obvious indicator of gaming chairs.
Its design grew out of car seats designed to keep you firmly in place while making sharp turns.
The problem is, even the most heart-pumping racing game won’t probably…
…have your body violently swaying from side to side.
Winged backrests share many of the advantages and disadvantages of bucket seats.
In the same way a wicked gaming case contributes to the whole gaming experience…
…though apart from optics, there is little evidence that such a design is ergonomically beneficial.
Fixed Headrest
Most gaming chairs have a high back and a fixed headrest to support the player’s head.
If a removable head pillow is added to cradle the neck, this chair is more ergonomic…
…than a mid or low back office chair for gamers who frequently lean back.
As with a bed with a backboard and pillow, a chair with a headrest…
…and support pillow is more comfortable and supportive than one without in a reclined position.
Many standard office chairs also include headrests…
…some of which can be adjusted in height, angle, or both.
These are logically superior to fixed headrests, though it doesn’t diminish the fact…
…that gaming chairs got it right when it comes to neck and head support.
High Level of Back Recline
Gaming chairs typically have a high level of backrest recline…
…some even as far back as 180 degrees to create a makeshift bed.
In terms of the most ergonomic way to sit, there is a lot of conflicting advice.
You may have heard the old saying “sit up straight” many times…
…but how does it hold up scientifically when it comes to long-term comfort and ergonomics?
Studies have shown that sitting in a reclined position puts the least strain and wear on your discs.
People who are prone to back pain should take note of this.
Waseem Amir Bashir examined the amount…
…of pressure different sitting postures exert on the spine using MRI scans.
The least strenuous position was a seated position with the backrest reclined at 135 degrees.
The research could have a significant impact on the design of backrests in ergonomic office chairs in the future.
It would seem that a gaming chair with a high level of recline would be crucial..
…to avoid back aches and even injuries in gamers that can easily spend many hours sitting.
The tilt mechanism of many standard office chairs – especially leather executive chairs…
…is extremely limited and only allows tilting and not reclining past 10 – 20 degrees.
Gaming chairs on the other hand tend to be much more versatile in this regard…
…even budget models like the GTracing Chair are able to recline almost horizontally.
In other words, most gaming chairs are good for your back right out of the box.
Go on…
More Adjustable Armrests
The armrests are another area where gaming chairs have a lot more…
…to offer than standard ergonomic chairs at similar price points.
You can find 2D or even 3D armrests in the former category for less than $200…
…where the armrests can be adjusted for height, depth, and angle to suit a variety of arm positions.
Add ergonomic office chairs to that, and you’re looking at chairs in the $300 and above range for 3D armrests.
Adjustability is directly correlated with increased ergonomics.
For example, an armrest that pivots inward can support more of your arms in the common “V” position…
…such as when typing or holding a controller.
Are Gaming Chairs More Ergonomic than Office Chairs?
What’s the final verdict? Gaming or standard office chair?
On the basis of the above analysis, you may draw your own conclusions…
…but here’s my takeaway strictly from an ergonomic standpoint:
The bucket seats and winged backrests on gaming chairs…
…can be counterproductive from an ergonomic standpoint…
…but the solution is to get a larger gaming chair.
Budget gaming chairs are slightly more ergonomic…
…than budget office chairs at the lower end of the price range.
A cheap gaming chair comes with the basics of an ergonomic chair…
…such as lumbar pillows, a robust reclining mechanism, a backrest, and 2D or 3D armrests.
When your budget increases, ergonomic office chairs begin…
…to surpass gaming chairs in terms of comfort and ergonomics.
Gaming chairs are not limited to a particular trendy form factor…
…and as such can be designed with flexible materials, 3D headrests…
…dynamic lumbar support, and many other features.
Here are our top picks…
Best Gaming Chairs
Techni Sport Luxx Series Synthetic Gaming Chair
This is an extremely important aspect, particularly for newcomers…
…who want to be able to take their elements out of the box…
…and (know how to) assemble them in just a few minutes.
A typical gaming chair requires about 20 to 30 minutes to assemble…
…if it has screws and bolts; this is not the case with most brands.
As an alternative, Techni Sport provides you with an instruction manual…
…explaining how to connect the pieces so that they “click” together…
…and provide you with the gaming chair you need.
Although this technique requires some work…
…it is far less than the typical construction of gaming chairs.
Glory Gaming Chair
The Glory Gaming Chair is one of the cheapest gaming chair.
It comes with a bolster to protect your back.
It is available in a variety of colours, such as Black and Red, Blue and White…
…and even an interesting yellow and white.
It is made of high-quality PU leather that is sweat-proof and super comfortable.
Additionally, the Glory Gaming chair has a headrest to support your neck.
You can tilt the chair about 160 degrees…
…and 90 degrees upright, and a few more angles in between.
The height of the backrest is about 80 cms…
…and the length of the seat is about 48 cms, so it is suitable for tall people as well.
Best Gaming Chair with Massager
A massage chair is a great choice for people who want to relax with their families.
These gaming chairs are usually used for relieving aches and pains by helping people to relax.
The massage chair comes with all the accessories you will need to use the massager and chair.
Various types of massage gaming chairs are available on the market…
…and most of them come with the necessary accessories.
Among the accessories could be a reclining massage seat…
…a massage table, and a massage table cover. With these accessories,…
…you will be able to get some relief from your aches and pains…
…by providing yourself with a relaxing environment.
They will also allow you to relax while you are on the chair.
You will also receive a better massage with the reclining massage chair.
Additionally, you’ll find that the table cover helps you protect…
…your table from stains as well as keeping it free of dirt and dust.
Choosing the correct position for the chair is crucial for getting a good massage.
Gaming chairs are designed to give massages in certain areas of the body…
…such as the head, the upper back, or the lower back.
A head massager is used to massage the head and the back of the head.
It helps to massage the back of the upper back with the upper back massage.
Lower back massagers are used to massage the lower back.
The right amount of pressure for the massage is crucial…
…to getting a good massage from the chair.
As a result, different parts of your body will experience..
…different pressures from the chair. There are different types of pressure…
…such as the soft and the hard, the light and the deep…
…and the chair also has different types of textures, such as the plush and the flat.
With the massage table, you can massage your body in a variety of ways.
The massage table cover is used to protect the massage table from dust and dirt.
The massage table cover features soft material that allows you…
…to give a good massage while removing dust and dirt from the table.
If you want to get a relaxing massage from your gaming chair…
…you will find that the massage table will be a great addition.
In order to find a good massage from your gaming chair…
…you will find that the table cover is very useful.
Sum Up!
Gamers will tell you how much gaming can wear you down…
…especially if you play for hours on end.
Furthermore, the wrong type of chair can cause you plenty of discomfort…
…and pain throughout your body.
There are a variety of gaming chairs available on the market…
…which is why it’s crucial to clarify what you want in a gaming chair.
A professional gamer, for instance, may want something more immersive…
…such as a simulator gaming chair.
Alternatively, someone with chronic back pain may opt for an ergonomic office chair.
Although every chair is unique, our goal is to highlight its common features…
…characteristics, and who they’re designed for. By knowing more about gaming chairs…
…you’ll be able to identify which chair will suit your needs and preferences.
Conclusion
In terms of office versus gaming chairs, there are a few significant differences…
…and while it all depends on what kind of comfort feels good for you…
…it’s clear that gaming chairs offer more ergonomic choices than office chairs.
If you consider the cost of a gaming chair, you may feel that the features are wasted…
…if you’re not using it for its intended purpose. As many people work from home these days…
…it’s important to have a comfortable chair that will stand the test of time…
…so think about your needs before purchasing.
I hope this guide was helpful in choosing the right chair for you.
Would you agree with our conclusion?
Tell us about your gaming chair or office chair in the comments below.
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I’m Roselyn T., a self-proclaimed tech geek on a mission to unravel the wonders of the digital realm. As a dedicated reviewer of computers and laptops, I share my insights and expertise on the latest tech trends and innovations on my blog, workrift.com. With a passion for demystifying the tech landscape, I not only offer in-depth reviews but also provide practical tips to navigate the ever-evolving world of technology. I’m also an author of the book “AP Computer Science A Premium, 2024: 6 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice (Barron’s AP)” which is sold on Amazon. Join me as we explore the exciting intersection of form and function in the realm of gadgets and gear.