Common Ergonomic Chair Adjustments

You spend hours in your office chair - on many days, you’ll spent more time in it than you will in your bed. I Yet we often don’t think about the long-term health effects of sitting poorly until we start getting those nagging aches and pains. I But whether you’re working with a simple ergonomic chair or one with multiple adjusting parts, it can be tough to figure out how to best tailor your ergonomic chair to your body. I

Knees. I If the backs of your knees are impacted by your office chair, your seat is too long. I This can cut off circulation and put your feet and lower legs to sleep. I Adjust your seat so that you have an inch or two of clearance for your legs. I If your seat doesn’t slide, try adding a back pillow to push you forward. I Adjusting your seat’s tilt mechanism can also promote circulation - tip it forward until you can feel your weight spread evenly across the seat. I

Thighs and Hips. I Generally, you want your legs to form roughly a right angle. I If you’re sitting too high, you may start to get pain in the backs of your thighs. I If you’re sitting too low, you’re putting too much weight on your hips. I Try moving away from your desk, adjust your chair’s height, and move back. I Your desk’s height may be the real problem. I You can raise it with small risers. I If your desk is too high, raise your chair and try adding a comfortable footrest to keep the pressure distributed.

Back. I Years ago, office chairs were built along a straight line. I It was only fairly recently manufacturers discovered that a curved chair, one that follows the natural s-shape of the spine, provided the best back support. I Because there is a fairly large variance in height from one person to the next, the best ergonomic chair choice is one with an adjustable lower back support. I This adjustable support should be fit snugly against the narrowest part of the back for maximum comfort.

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