What is an orthopaedic office chair?
Colloquially, the term orthopaedic office chair is used as a synonym for healthy sitting. Orthopaedic is to be understood preventively - after all, the chair should be able to be optimally adapted to the sitter's body and support his or her natural urge to move. A dynamic seat that allows and promotes movement and does not impair circulation is an ideal variant. A smooth seat height adjustment and suspension that can be adapted to the body weight are important so that the seat can be perfectly adjusted to the user. The purpose of an orthopaedic office chair is to alleviate existing back pain and, at best, to prevent it.
Accordingly, instead of orthopaedic office chair, one can also say ergonomic office chair.
Who needs an orthopaedic office chair?
In any case, an orthopaedic or ergonomic chair is advisable if back disorders such as intervertebral disc disease, facet syndrome, lumbalgia, Bekhterev's disease, Scheuermann's disease, spondylarthrosis or spinal insufficiency are present or if arterial diseases such as thromboses or a decubitus ulcer have been diagnosed. In principle, it is advisable for anyone who works a lot while sitting (or standing) to use an ergonomic office chair or standing seat as a preventive measure.
Who pays for an orthopaedic office chair?
Costs for an orthopaedic Chair are not easily covered by third parties. However, there are various ways to apply for subsidies or cost absorption for ergonomic office furniture. Depending on your status (student/civil servant), the length of time you have been paying into the pension fund or whether you are in rehab or not, various institutions decide whether or not you are eligible for a subsidy or cost absorption. These include the German pension insurance (BfA), professional associations, employment agencies, integration office and in some cases also the health insurance fund or health insurance company.
In which case are the costs for an orthopaedic office chair covered?
The assumption of costs for an ergonomic chair must be applied for - and this must be done BEFORE the purchase of the corresponding office furniture. First and foremost, a medical certificate or a discharge report from rehab is required. Furthermore, a job description (is it a workstation at the computer, in production, etc.) and a cost estimate must be available. These documents must be submitted to the relevant pension insurance institution together with the application documents (available at www.deutsche-rentenversicherung-bund.de). The maximum subsidy for orthopaedic office chairs is 435 euros.
Which is the right orthopaedic office chair?
This question cannot be answered without further ado, because it depends very much on the activity of the person affected, on a possible diagnosis or a course of the disease and certainly also on personal preferences. Someone who has been diagnosed with a decubitus will be helped by an anti-decubitus seat or a viscoelastic seat. Those who are constantly plagued by back pain may tend towards active-movement sitting and thus towards a Aeris Swopper without backrest or armrests. Still others need a seat that relieves pressure on the coccyx. If in doubt, consult a doctor - or simply try it out and see which chair is right for you.
