Page 2 of Seat Cushions

Why seat cushions in the office are helpful

Although many office chairs and seating are height-adjustable, are set at anthropometrically correct heights for the general population, or already have comfortable padding, extra support and cushioning offers added benefits. Seat pads can serve as risers, giving users extra inches to get up and out of chairs safely and comfortably, as well as adding air circulation around seats to minimize heat build-up. Additional cushioning may alleviate the compression of seats on pressure points, reducing numbness and discomfort. Both risers and seat cushions for the office offer added chiropractic benefits even to the most ergonomic office chair.

Three types of added cushioning

Cushions, pads, or risers are part of many chair accessories that also include items like backrests and other ergonomic devices to add comfort and support. One of the accessory cushions is a full wraparound pad that provides support not only for the seat, but also for the back and arms. The wraparound is suitable for offices, but works best in more relaxed settings like at home or in the office breakroom. Another accessory is a seat pad cushion, providing support on any chair in the office, including waiting-room benches or banc-style arrangements. These seat cushions for reception or office chairs often pair well with foot rests for a more comfortable seating posture. The third style is the padded riser. These foam seat risers go with any chair or seating arrangement for added standing leverage, but they also serve as a booster seat to give users extra height at a desk.

The cores of seat cushions for the office

Cushions and risers normally have one of four types of filling:

• Polyester fiber-fill, a high-quality flexible foam that is soft and resilient
• Memory foam, a visco-elastic, low-resistance polyurethane foam that takes the shape of the body’s compression points
• Gel pouches, consisting of a thick, jellylike liquid with various degrees of resistance
• Gel foam, which is simply a layer of gel sandwiched between foam padding

Many wraparound cushions have the soft, fiber-fill foam core, since they’re really built for relaxation. Pad cushions and seat risers normally consist of memory foam, which is known for its ability to spring back from pressure and to provide balanced distribution among pressure points. It makes an excellent posture-correcting lumbar cushion. Many gels provide the right balance of support and comfort for wheelchair users and those with bariatric conditions.