An office chair with or without armrests? A choice your spine will feel the difference!

Choosing between a chair with armrests and one without is one of the most important decisions when setting up your workspace, as it directly affects the health of your back. For most people who work at a desk, an office chair with armrests is by far the better option, as it helps you maintain an ergonomic posture. Stable support for the forearms relieves the strain on the shoulder and neck muscles by nearly 20 per cent, which effectively prevents back pain, numbness in the hands and chronic fatigue during long hours spent in front of a screen.

Contemporary office chair It is no longer just an ordinary seat, but has become an advanced tool that boosts our productivity. Although models without armrests are still available on the market, they usually serve a supplementary function in spaces where the time spent sitting is minimal. However, if your work or hobby requires you to concentrate for several hours a day, professional office chairs with properly designed armrests are not so much a luxury as an absolute necessity for maintaining your long-term health.

An office chair with or without armrests – which is better for your posture?

When considering which option has a better effect on posture, it is worth looking at the biomechanics of our body whilst sitting. When we choose a model without armrests, the weight of our upper limbs must be borne entirely by the muscles of the shoulder girdle and the upper spine. This leads to subconsciously tensing the shoulders and adopting what is known as a ‘closed posture’, in which the chest collapses and the head juts forward unnaturally. A professional office chair with armrests effectively prevents this problem. By transferring the weight of the forearms onto the chair’s stable frame, the neck and shoulder muscles can remain relaxed, which directly results in less pressure on the vertebrae and improved blood flow to the back muscles.

A properly designed office chair acts as a kind of support structure for the body, preventing slouching and painful muscle tension. It is worth remembering that working for long periods in a static position without adequate support is the main cause of problems with the lumbar spine. Armrests act as stabilisers here – they help keep the hips in the correct position and reduce the tendency to ‘slide off’ the seat, which is a common occurrence when we rest our tired arms directly on the desk top.

Key benefits for posture:

• Relieving strain on the neck - a noticeable relaxation of the trapezius muscles.
• Breathing freely - maintaining an open chest posture.
• Trunk stabilisation - reducing pressure on the lumbar region.

Are adjustable armrests on an office chair essential?

The question of whether adjustable armrests on an office chair are necessary comes up almost every time new office furniture is purchased. The answer is: it is precisely this adjustability that determines whether the chair will be ergonomic or merely aesthetically pleasing. We all have different body types, arm lengths and shoulder widths, which is why rigid backrests rarely prove to be a one-size-fits-all solution. The modern office chairs available from Mark Adler are designed for full customisation. 2D, 3D or even 4D mechanisms allow not only for height adjustment, but also for adjusting the width, depth and even the angle of the seat and backrest.

This flexibility means that office chairs become a tool precisely tailored to the user, rather than the other way round. The up-and-down adjustment allows the armrests to be levelled with the desk, creating a single, continuous surface for the forearms and the mouse, thereby minimising the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. In turn, adjusting the width of the armrests is crucial for people of a slighter build – armrests set too far apart would force the arms into an unnatural abducted position, which after a few hours would result in pain in the shoulder joints. By choosing advanced office chairs, we are investing in a system that works alongside us, regardless of the nature of the tasks we perform.

What should you look out for when buying an ergonomic office chair with armrests?

When choosing the ideal model for work, it is not worth focusing solely on design, although aesthetics are extremely important in a modern office. The quality of the moving parts and the material used for the armrests are of key importance. A high-quality office chair with armrests should have a soft finish (so-called ‘soft-touch’ pads), which cushion the pressure of the elbow against the hard frame. This is particularly important as prolonged pressure on the ulnar nerve can lead to unpleasant numbness in the fingers. It is also worth checking the stability of the adjustment mechanism – the armrests should not have excessive play, which can be distracting whilst typing on a keyboard.

When investing in an office chair, you should also check whether its design allows you to slide the chair easily under the desk top once you have finished working. In the Mark Adler range, the designers ensure that office chairs combine sturdiness with a compact design, which is particularly important in home offices where space is limited. A sturdy base and smooth-operating adjustment buttons are the details that set professional-grade furniture apart from budget options, ensuring the chair remains reliable for years to come.

The key features of a good armrest:

• The softness of the material - protection of joints and nerves against excessive pressure.
• Precision of the mechanism - the ability to securely lock a selected position.
• Ergonomic design - a slightly concave surface that naturally guides the forearm.

How do you adjust the height and width of the armrests to suit your body shape?

Adjusting your chair correctly is a process worth repeating every time you change your shoes or desk. The basic principle is to aim for a right angle (90 degrees) between your upper arm and forearm. The armrests should be set at a height that allows the shoulders to rest comfortably, without the need to raise them unnaturally (the so-called ‘shrugging’ effect) or let them droop. Properly adjusted office chairs allow the line of the desk top to extend smoothly through the armrests, creating an ideal surface for the wrist to operate a computer mouse.

Adjusting the width is equally important. The armrests must not be too close to the torso, so as not to restrict movement, nor too far away, as this would force the elbows to splay unnaturally to the sides. In a professional office chair, the width should be adjusted so that your hands can reach the centre of the keyboard comfortably without straining your shoulder girdle. Remember that your body needs to change position throughout the day, so it’s worth choosing office chairs that allow you to adjust these settings quickly ‘on the fly’, without the need for tools.

The principles of the perfect fit in a nutshell:

• Height - elbows at tabletop height, and shoulders completely relaxed.
• Width - keep your elbows close to your torso, but without touching your hips.
• Depth - The armrests should not knock against the desk top when the chair is pushed in.

Why is it worth investing in an office chair with armrests?

Choosing between a chair with armrests and one without is, in fact, a decision about how much we value our comfort and health in the long term. Every professional office chair should support the body’s natural curves, and forearm support is an essential part of this. By investing in an office chair with armrests, you are effectively buying peace of mind – a lower risk of headaches caused by neck tension, healthier wrists and greater productivity that doesn’t wane as the hours spent in front of the screen go by.

Remember that your body functions best in a dynamic environment. When choosing modern office chairs from With Mark Adler, you can be sure that the adjustment mechanisms will allow you to adapt the furniture to your current needs as and when required. Whether you’re working remotely or fitting out a professional open-plan office, opt for solutions that combine modern design with the highest standards of ergonomics. Your back will thank you for it after every day of intensive work.