Why all the hype about gaming chairs? What’s wrong with a regular chair or sitting on the floor? Do gaming chairs really make a difference? What do gaming chairs do that’s so impressive? Why are they so popular?
The simple answer is that gaming chairs are better than normal office chairs. That is because gaming chairs support proper posture while sitting.
Modern life is sedentary. In France, the average employee spends around 10 hours sitting each day at work. In the UK, people spend around 60% of their waking hours sitting. For office workers, that number goes up to 75%.
When sitting in a normal office chair, your spine has to hold up your arms, torso, and head against gravity. As your back tires from the strain, it curves into a slouch. As time passes, slouching becomes more prevalent until it becomes your default position.
Gaming chairs correct these issues with simple ergonomic science. Instead of your spine holding your body against gravity, gaming chairs do the work for you. A high padded backrest with neck and lumbar cushions provides the main support. Then there are height, reclining and armrest adjustments that ensure perfect positioning.
The support that gaming chairs provide can make a huge difference for those who sit full-time. With healthy posture comes noticeable improvements in wellness, vitality and productivity. Keep reading to learn the details.
What is a gaming chair?
In 1997, the South Korean economy crashed. In 1998, Blizzard released the video game Starcraft. It became so popular with jobless Korean youth that it birthed the pro esports industry.
As gamers spent more time sitting, many began to suffer from back pain. In 2006, DXRacer addressed that issue with the world’s first gaming chair. It was a modified racing style seat with innovative ergonomic features.
Today, DXRacer’s original blueprint is still the gold standard. With adjustability and padding, this design provides excellent ergonomics with luxurious comfort:
- Adjustments: backrest recline; raise or lower seat; armrest adjustments; 360° swivel.
- Comfort: thick padded seat, backrest and arms; ergonomic pillows for the curves in your neck and lower back.
Today, many sectors of society use gaming chairs. Students, pro gamers and general computer users prefer gaming chairs because of the benefits they provide.
The payoff is boosted productivity. Sitting for long periods in a cheap chair is uncomfortable. With discomfort, you have less focus. That means your gaming or computing efforts will suffer.
Gaming chairs keep your body in alignment while sitting for long periods. That places less strain on your body and provides more energy for computing.
Do you suffer from backaches, stiffness, headaches or other pains while sitting? A gaming chair can help turn things around.
Gaming chair features
- High quality materials: most gaming chairs use synthetic PU leather. Many mix leather with breathable mesh fabric. If you choose a chair without the breathable mesh, sitting for long hours might get sticky.
- Neck and lumbar support: these are standard features. Avoid gaming chairs that don’t offer these.
- Fitting options: the best chairs offer various adjustments. These include height, armrest positioning, and reclining. These functions allow comfortable transitions through working and relaxation times.
- Sturdy base and rollers: on all surfaces, gaming chairs glide across floors. This reduces the strain on the arms and back by helping you move around while sitting. This helps you to stay more comfortable.
How do gaming chairs make a difference?
Gaming chairs make a difference by supporting the health and wellness of those who use them. These chairs can improve posture and boost vitality.
When you sit in a gaming chair, position the support cushions at the curves of your neck and spine. Set the recline to between 100° to 110°. Then lean into the backrest with your arms on the armrests.
The chair will absorb your body weight, with your head balanced atop your torso and the neck pillow. This position sets your eyes on the computer screen, with your hands within easy reach of your mouse and keyboard.
Improved posture
If you have poor posture, sitting in a gaming chair will be like taking a yoga class for the first time. After years of slouching, your body becomes most comfortable with a bent back.
That tightens muscles in your legs, back, neck and shoulders. When you sit in a gaming chair, tight muscles must expand. For people with poor posture, this may feel very uncomfortable — at first.
As with yoga, it takes a few days of practice before your body starts to loosen up. Then, you will discover a refreshed way of working that boosts wellness at the computer and away from it. If you only sit a few hours per day, a cheap gaming chair will provide the ergonomics you need. Those who sit full-time would be better off investing in a professional gaming chair. These cost over $300 but come with thicker padding that holds up well under full-time loads. Both options provide a huge upgrade over office chairs.
Consistent comfort
Those who persevere past the breaking-in period will notice positive differences in their quality of life while sitting. Expect the following to unfold as you get accustomed to life with a gaming chair:
- Deeper breathing and improved circulation.
- Increased body and spatial awareness while sitting.
- Boosted energy levels and drive.
- Greater productivity at work.
The more you sit in a gaming chair, the better your posture becomes. With good sitting posture, you will enjoy a better gaming or working experience. In fact, gaming chairs are so comfortable that many forget they are sitting! With your body supported, hours can pass by in a flash of high-performance computing.
Eye level computing
This photo from a 1980s Space Invaders tournament shows how crude ergonomics were at the time. Players sat on wicker chairs while craning their necks to stare at TVs placed too high.
An important aspect of modern-day gaming chairs is that they enable comfortable, eye-level computing. All gaming chairs come with gas-powered lifts. Raise or lower as needed. Combine with the recline and support pillows until your eyes are level to the top of the screen. In that position, you need only move your eyes to follow the action, not your whole head. That saves energy which you can put into focused computing.
It doesn’t matter if you are leaning back to watch movies, or sitting upright working. You can adjust your chair to make sure that your posture is always aligned with your eyes on the screen.
Increased energy levels
When sitting for long periods with poor posture, the muscles get strained. That’s a problem because you need healthy muscles to keep your body in balance. With poor sitting habits, many people develop chronic neck, back, and shoulder pain.
When you make the switch to a gaming chair, the chair supports the muscles so that the body doesn’t have to. That eliminates muscle strain, leaving more energy for productive pursuits.
Immersive computing
Gaming chairs also offer an immersive computing experience. Sitting in one keeps your body aligned, comfortable, and focused on the screen.
Sitting upright with good posture is a power pose. In a research study titled Power Posing, Dana R. Carney shows how posture affects mood. Power poses trigger elevated testosterone, decreased cortisol and increased feelings of power.
When you sit upright, Carney notes “that sends signals up to the brain, and it says ‘I’m feeling powerful.'”
This is how gaming chairs excel at providing an immersive computing experience. When you get used to sitting in a gaming chair, back pain and tension disappear. Your good posture sends pleasure signals from your brain through your body.
That makes you forget that you’re sitting and puts you in a zone. Your eyes lock on the screen. Mouse and keyboard are within easy reach. All that’s left is complete immersion into high-performance computing.
Gaming chair performance FAQs
Gaming chairs are more comfortable than office chairs. They support good posture. In sum, these features work to improve your working or gaming performance. Below we answer key performance questions about gaming chairs.
Can a gaming chair help me win a game?
There’s a reason so many pro esports players use gaming chairs. While the chair itself can’t help you win a game, it can improve your health while playing.
Think about how you play games without a gaming chair. You sit on the floor, or a folding chair, or the sofa, or in some other position. The seat is comfortable at first, but after time, you begin to get sore.
If the screen isn’t set to the right height, you will also burn energy straining your neck. As you neck gets more and more uncomfortable, there is nothing you can do for relief except to ignore the pain.
With a gaming chair, your neck enjoys comfy support. You can also adjust the height, so you are looking at the screen from eye level.
Can a gaming chair protect my body?
A big problem gamers face when using cheap chairs is fatigue and soreness. Soreness often comes from sitting in the wrong position for long periods of time. The longer you sit, the more uncomfortable you become. Pain and discomfort can creep in, and your body becomes more and more tired as it tries to compensate.
The best gaming chairs work by protecting your body and supporting your muscles. Sitting with good posture and an aligned spine will keep your body in prime condition. It will also protect against any long-term injuries. When you are sitting comfortably, you will play better. If you are suffering from any injuries, you will play worse. A gaming chair is an obvious choice for making you a better gamer.
How do gaming chairs work?
Check our Ultimate Gaming Chair User Manual to learn how to use your gaming chair. That guide teaches how gaming chairs support the back and neck while sitting for long hours. It also explains why gaming chairs have taller backrests. When a user sits in a gaming chair, support pillows help the body stay in proper alignment.
The seat is usually covered in thick foam padding. This helps to distribute weight across the chair. Plus are many adjustments for height and reclining.
Standard features in both premium chairs and budget models usually include:
- Ergonomic design that supports proper sitting posture
- Legs get positioned for maximum blood flow
- Reclining options for a quick switch from upright working into relaxation mode
- Support for 300+ pounds
- Sleek and stylish faux leather designs
What are the long-term benefits of gaming chairs?
In simple terms, a gaming chair will allow you to sit for a long time. When you sit, gaming chairs support proper posture. When you stand, you will notice the difference.
Some people might buy gaming chairs because they look so cool. Many more likely buy gaming chairs because they support good posture while computing.
As you get used to sitting in a gaming chair, your posture will improve. This will lead to more improvements, like increased flexibility and boosted vitality.
FINAL VERDICT
The best gaming chairs really do make a difference. Ergonomic gaming chairs are all about comfort, and in the world of gaming, comfort plays a very big part. Imagine doing something while you are uncomfortable. You lack the concentration and focus to do it perfectly. Gaming chairs will ensure that you are at your most comfortable when you need to be.
Gaming chairs will make a difference and provide many benefits. By using one, you will perform better when sat in front of the computer. You will also protect yourself from injury. Go get one before it is too late.