Are you still uncomfortable while sitting in your ergonomic office chair? When you get a new ergonomic chair, there is an adjustment period. This article of FittingChairs will show you how to set up an ergonomic office chair.
Find out now!
Why Is My Ergonomic Chair Hurting My Back?
If you’ve been having trouble spending your hard-earned money on a premium ergonomic chair but discover that it’s hurting your back, it’s quite bad.
Something is definitely wrong!
Due to a more active sitting posture, there may be some time of adjustment and acclimation depending on the type of chair you purchased. This should be a situation that you adapt to quickly.
Frequently, a new experience should not make you comfortable instantly.
Sitting for long periods of time isn’t something you want to do anyway, but when you have to do it, you should be comfortable.
For maximum comfort, when seated, your feet should be flat on the floor and your arms should rest comfortably flat against your workspace surface.
Your weight should be distributed evenly between your legs and torso. If you experience any pressure points or soreness, you should adjust your chair accordingly.
If you’re experiencing discomfort or pain while using your ergonomic desk chair, it’s most likely not set up correctly and needs to be adjusted leading to any discomfort.
When you buy a high-end ergonomic chair, such as a Herman Miller Aeron chair, the manufacturer will show you how to set it up so you can start reaping the benefits right away.
But don’t worry, we’ll go over how to set up your ergonomic desk chair below. But first, consider how it should feel and what a proper sitting position should be.
How Should An Ergonomic Chair Feel?
Your new high-end ergonomic chair should feel like it’s cradling your body.
How is ergonomic desk chair setup?
- It should relieve pressure on your back, hips, thighs, and legs.
- It should also support and comfort you as you sit.
What are the best chairs for sitting for long hours?
There are numerous types of seats that can be used in offices and homes. Each has its own distinct features and benefits.
Ergonomic office chairs are specifically designed to help reduce stress on your body by providing proper support for your entire body from lumbar, legs, and back to distribute your weight evenly.
Should Your Knees Be Above Your Hips When Sitting?
Most people never receive proper training on how to sit in a chair properly.
But, learning how to set up office chair ergonomic is essential for staying productive while working from home at a job that requires a lot of time in front of a computer or sitting at a desk.
In terms of ergonomic chair position, according to the Cleveland Clinic article on Back Health and Posture, it’s better to follow these things:
- Sit up straight with your back straight and shoulders back. Your buttocks should be in contact with the back of your chair.
- All three normal back curves should be present while sitting.
- To help maintain the normal curves in your back, use a small, rolled-up towel or a lumbar roll.
- Slouch all the way to the back of your chair.
- Draw yourself up and accentuate your back curve as much as possible, at least a couple of seconds.
- Allow the position to relax slightly about 10 degrees.
- Spread your body weight evenly across both hips.
- Maintain your knees at or slightly higher than your hips and make a right angle with your knees.
- Should not cross your legs.
- Maintain a flat foot on the floor.
- Avoid sitting in one position for more than 30 minutes.
- Adjust the height of your chair and workstation at work so that you can sit up close to your work and tilt it up toward you.
- Keep your shoulders relaxed by resting your elbows and arms on your chair or desk.
- Rotate your entire body instead of twisting at the waist while sitting in a chair that rolls and pivots.
- When rising from a seated position, move to the front of the chair. Straighten your legs to stand up. Avoid bending forward from the waist. Do 10 standing backbends to immediately stretch your back.
Why Does My Office Chair Make My Hips Hurt?
If you’re hurting while sitting at your desk in an ergonomic chair, your posture is probably bad.
Moreover, it is possible that the strength of the muscles in your hips has deteriorated, which is common in people who sit a lot at their desk.
Simply, you can get up every hour or two and go for a walk. It will also aid in the prevention of muscle atrophy. This is one of the best way to sit in office chair.
What Angle Should I Position My Body In My Chair?
To ensure proper sitting posture, it’s critical to maintain a 90-degree angle between your torso and your legs. But, it doesn’t work every time.
According to research, a more reclined angle of 135 degrees may be the best for comfort and preventing degenerative disk disease.
As per a research presented by the Radiological Society of North America, the optimal sitting position was with a trunk-thigh angle of 135 degrees. When compared to an upright 90-degree sitting posture, this position was shown to cause the least strain on the lumbar spine.
How To Set Up An Ergonomic Office Chair?
Below are some features you should do in terms of adjusting an office chair:
Adjust Your Seat Height
It’s critical to get your ergonomic chair’s height just right. But, how to set up office chair ergonomic to get a proper seat height?
To do so, set it at a level where your feet can rest flat on the floor to avoid cutting off blood flow by being too high or too low.
For most people, this also means to a height of 16-22 inches from the floor.
Adjust Your Seat Depth
The seat depth of your chair determines how much space there is between your bottom and the edge of the seat. If your thighs and buttocks are rubbing against the seat’s edges, your chair needs to be adjusted.
Adjust Your Lumbar Support
When it comes to adjusting lumbar support office chair, you should also focus on your right posture.
Lumbar supports are intended to help keep your lower back in proper alignment and to alleviate pain caused by poor posture. To provide proper support, ensure that the lumbar support rests gently but firmly against your lower back.
Adjust Your Armrests
When typing, reading, or using a mouse, armrests can provide additional comfort. Adjust them so that your arms rest comfortably while sitting in proper posture.
Adjust Your Keyboard Placement
A properly positioned keyboard tray relieves wrist and forearm strain. If you use a keyboard tray, you must account for the height difference when compared to placing a keyboard on your desktop.
Refer our guides on how does a mechanical keyboard work to know ways to adjust ergonomically!
Adjust Your Monitor Stand
To apply how to set up office chair ergonomic correctly, you shouldn’t miss adjusting your monitor stand. It’s also worth measuring your computer screen.
Indeed, your eye level should be toward the top of the computer monitor. This allows you to look down while looking at your display.
Keep in mind to make sure your adjustable desk and chair are the same height for optimal ergonomic comfort.
Adjust Your Headrest
If your ergonomic chair has a head rest, make sure it’s properly positioned as well. It is recommended that you adjust your headrest to support you at the top of your neck, allowing the base of your head to rest easily and comfortably against it.
FittingChairs hope these above recommendations will benefit anybody who is in trouble with how to set up an ergonomic office chair to get an optimal sitting posture. Share this article if you find it helpful!
