The term spindle chair is not a modern invention. It is an older design that date back to the eighteenth century, and it was called a “spindle chair” for obvious reasons: it was designed as a chair with two swinging arms, rather than a regular chair with a single arm. The name spindle comes from the Greek word spirit, which means “broken.” These chairs have been associated with British commoners, such as the ones at the House of Parliament in England, who used to sit in them to vote. The spindles may have been made of wood or other materials, but the most popular form today is wrought iron or steel.
Spindle-chairs are not very comfortable. This may have been their main drawback in the past, but the popularity of these chairs has since declined due to their increased numbers being replaced by simpler chairs with a single arm and a framework made of leather or metal. Today, they are mainly found in corporate offices as well as common public libraries. They have become almost ubiquitous, especially in offices. It is common for one to see a person in a library or office on one of these chairs.
The design of spindle chairs has changed subtly over the years, but the basic mechanism has not. In recent decades, ergonomics researchers have been working to improve this design. A typical modern ergonomic chair has a backrest, a chair armrest, and a lumbar support system. The design goal is to create a chair that is as close to the natural body alignment as possible. Because of this, are spindle chairs comfortable?
A representative of the Office and Product Development Department of a large furniture retailer says, “Spindle chairs are a great choice for people who need ergonomic design. Ergonomically-designed chairs allow people to sit in them for extended periods of time. They provide a very similar comfort level as a regular chair with all of the same features – such as armrests, backrest, and lumbar support – at a lower price.” He went on to say that spindle chairs are also ideal for offices because the arms are not set close to the keyboard or the monitor area. Additionally, most of today’s models do not have any armrests, which prevents users from having “back pains” over time.
Spindle chairs have gained popularity with both office employees and consumers, thanks to their design. The most important question, then, is, are these chairs comfortable? Spindle chairs have evolved over time, but many experts still agree that the traditional design provides the most comfort. According to the American Society for Testing and Materials, “A typical ergonomic chair has a seat pan that is at least as deep as the knee. The seat pan should curve outward toward the user to provide adequate clearance around the waist and hips.”
Spindle chairs provide the user with ample space to sit upright, with their feet placed flat on the floor. The ergonomic design of a spindle chair ensures that your spine is correctly aligned. This allows you to achieve optimal comfort and proper spinal alignment. Furthermore, most ergonomic chairs have lumbar support, adjustable armrests, and adequate cushioning for your lower back and shoulders. These features are very important when choosing the right ergonomic chair for your needs.