Specialist office chairs

niceboots

does anyone use specialist office seating? What do you use? and how do you go about getting funding? I'm getting really tight and achy in my hips and back, and I'm convinced my chair at work isn't helping! I've read online that the bambach saddle seat is good, has anyone used one? Or can suggest other types of specialist seating I can look into or maybe where I can go to get help/advice?

Geoark

niceboots,

If employed I would suggest going through your employer.

If self employed I would suggest using an independent OT service who would assess your work area as well as helping to assess your chair needs, sourcing a specialist chair and helping to set the chair for you. As for funding I would suggest looking at Access to Work to start with.

http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/access-work

A chair which works well for someone else may not be best for you, if it was but wrongly set you probably would not benefit from it. It is better to do it right and getting the maximum benefit.

Ajk110

How are you getting on with this? If still relevant, I would agree that Access to Work is probably your best place to look for funding, unless your employer is able to pay for it. In many organisations, an occupational health budget of some kind exists to finance reasonable adjustments such as specialist seating. As for what to get, an independent assessment is crucial. One widely-used company that I know of, highly regarded for ergonomic office furnature and equipment is Posturite (www.posturite.co.uk)

but do some research for others. Best of luck.

niceboots

For the time being I've changed my physio routine to help make my hips more comfortable and strengthen my core muscles to improve my posture. That along with changing position and getting up and walking around regularly is helping... The problem with having my own seating is that we hot desk and we're in a small building so there's nowhere really to keep it. 

JayPee

One of  the most common problems in an office is sitting and forgetting to get up or change posture etc.Depending on the size of your employer you could get 100% funding for a chair. They will send a specialist to assess your needs. 
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/527784/employer-guide-atw-dwpf03a.pdf

Geoark

niceboots,

I have worked in several buildings with hot desking from large open plan areas on several floors to an office on a single floor and currently a mix between a listed building and modern addition with a mixture of offices and open plan. The need for a specialist chair has not been an issue in any of those places. Hot desking is really not an excuse to meet the physical needs of a few employees, or even just one employee.