Too many people sit in a chair all day that is simply too large. Here are some simple things that you can check to see if you need to consider “upgrading” your chair.
1. Both of your feet should comfortably be touching the ground. Dangling feet are a very bad thing, as you are losing a significant amount of lumbar support through your legs.
2. The backs of your knees should not be touching the front portion of the chair while you are comfortably seated. You should have a minimum of 1-2 inches of space between the back of your knees and where the seat of the chair starts.
3. The back of your chair should support you up to the level of your shoulder blades. This means that you should be able to sit “all the way back” into your chair as you work. If scooting back into your chair causes your feet to lift off the ground, or if it causes the backs of your knees to cram against the chair, you need a larger chair!
4. The arm rests of your chair should be able to move up and down to accommodate where your elbows are as you type. Many chairs that are too large have arm rests that do not lower enough to comfortably support the elbows. You should not feel as if you have to “shrug” your shoulders in order to rest your arms comfortably.
Realize that most office chair manufacturers make three (3) sizes for chairs, A, B, and C. Check with the companies websites to see what category you fall into based on your height. Your body will thank you for making the necessary changes.
Ask a Physical Therapist a Question