Armrests are a great way to help prevent muscular tension and pain. They provide support to your upper body, keeping you feeling comfortable for longer.
Armrests guide your arms into a relaxed position, placing less stress on your shoulders and neck. This position also promotes correct postural alignment and is particularly suited to occupations that involve lots of reading and typing.
There’s been advice in recent years that armrests aren’t beneficial and may in fact be detrimental to your health. Each person’s body is different and everyone has different job requirements, so this may be the case in some occupations, however, this advice should not be taken to mean that you should’t choose a chair with armrests. As an overall rule, armrests will make your chair more comfortable.
When choosing chairs you should look for armrests that don’t interfere with free movement between you and your desk. Armrests should also be positioned at a height and width that allows you to comfortably rest your elbows without any effort. Adjustable arms are great too as they can be tailored to suit your individual preferences.