The Unintended Cost Of Cheap Office Chairs

The untold truth of the ACTUAL cost of poor office chairs for your workforce

Trying to save costs by buying cheaper office chairs for your workforce? Research suggests that it could cost more in the long run because of the strong correlation between employees suffering from poor posture and work-related injuries.

Research has shown that sitting in poor posture can lead to a variety of musculoskeletal disorders, such as lower back pain, hip pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain, which can cause individuals to miss out on work due to discomfort and disability.

Let’s look at the research.

1One study examined how different working positions can lead to musculoskeletal pain among 789 workers.¹ It looked specifically at how often and how intensely workers engage in certain postures, like slouching, bending the neck, or lifting arms, and then assessed their pain over time to see if there's a clear link. They found significant connections between certain postures and specific types of pain—such as trunk flexion causing lower back pain, neck flexion leading to neck pain, and arm elevation leading to neck and shoulder pain. The findings confirm that poor posture can increase the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders and work absenteeism.

2One study looked specifically at how poor posture affects scapular function.² The scapula is critical for optimal shoulder and upper extremity function. The research focused on the impact of work-related posture and stress on the scapular resting position among computer professionals. The study involved 350 male professionals who were examined for scapular position and assessed for work-related posture using various methods. The study found a significant association between poor posture and the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders of the shoulder.

What is the cost of poor posture for employers?

Poor posture can result in a 66% decrease in productivity!³

The loss of productivity, the potential for workers’ compensation claims, and the need to find temporary replacements for absent employees are all factors that can significantly affect the bottom line for employers.

Clearly, the evidence suggests that poor posture is a huge risk factor for missed workdays. The best way to prevent this scenario is for employers to INVEST in the health of employees by providing a chair that will support the body in all the right places and promote good posture.

In addition to investing in a good office chair it’s also helpful to address their ergonomic work set-up and advise on stretching and exercises to reduce muscle imbalances that result from poor posture.

If you are looking to improve posture while sitting, look no further than Anthros.

Anthros is the only chair in the world that is guaranteed to improve posture or your money back. The science-backed, patented design is registered with the FDA as a posture-improving chair and is proven to have the lowest pressure (most comfortable) cushion on the planet (verified by university testing).

Take the next step to reducing pain, increasing comfort, and maximizing performance!

References:

1. Coenen, P., Douwes, M., Heuvel, S., & Bosch, T. (2016). Towards exposure limits for working postures and musculoskeletal symptoms – a prospective cohort study. Ergonomics, 59, 1182 - 1192. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2015.1130862.

2. Kumar, P. (2023). Association of Work-related posture and stress with Scapular dyskinesis among Computer professionals. Journal of medical pharmaceutical and allied sciences. https://doi.org/10.55522/jmpas.v12i1.4706

3. Ricci JA, Chee E, Lorandeau AL, Berger J. Fatigue in the U.S. workforce: prevalence and implications for lost productive work time. J Occup Environ Med. 2007 Jan;49(1):1-10. doi: 10.1097/01.jom.0000249782.60321.2a. PMID: 17215708.

4. Webb, G. (2018, September 17). The Back Breaking Cost of Back Pain in the US. IRIS FMP. https://fmpglobal.com/blog/the-back-breaking-cost-of-back-pain-in-the-us/