Properly Adjust an Office Chair for Better Use


know your chair

While it is essential to have office chairs and other such furniture around an office, it may be just as important that the occupants of that office have a full working knowledge of how to use office furniture to its fullest extent, because there are many features on any given piece of office furniture, especially office chairs which offer comfortability, relaxation and reduced incidents of back injury for people of all sizes. Adjusting an office chair is therefore something we should all know how to do.

For example, users of office chairs should know how to adjust the height of their chairs so that their feet are able to rest comfortably on the floor, and their thighs are horizontal in relation to the floor. If a user’s feet cannot comfortably rest on the floor, they will obviously need a footrest, but footrests should not be necessary in an office environment, so the height must be properly adjusted.

Pneumatic adjustment

If an office chair has pneumatic level capability, height adjustment can be accomplished from a seated position; whereas with older office chairs the user will need to stand in front of the chair and rotate the seat clockwise or counter clockwise in order to raise or lower the height. Under the old scenario, the only way to know when the adjustment is made correctly is when the seat pan height is just below the height of that user’s knee caps.

If your job requires that you use office chairs, you should always avoid situations where your feet dangle, as this will compress the tissue in back of your thighs and behind your knees, which could also result in aches and discomfort in your lower legs. There really should be a space about the width of a clenched fist between the back of the knees and front of the chair. If there isn’t, lower the chair slightly.

On the other hand, if your chair has a “tilt” feature, tilt the seat pan forward to slightly relieve any pressure you may be experiencing. The last resor is you may need a foot rest is there is still discomfort. Keep in mind that the rounded edge on many office chairs will also help to prevent uncomfortable pressure behind the knees. Another thing you must be aware of when seated at your desk, is that your office chair should be adjusted to accommodate the working surface. What this means is that your chair should be raised high enough to keep you sitting comfortably at your desk.

Backrest adjusting

Backrests on office chairs should should be adjusted so that they support the lumbar areas of a users’ lower back, since this is the most important contact point between the user and that piece of furniture. Obviously anything a user can do to take care of his/her lower back is should be done based on the importance of this area to effectively doing his/her job.

In most situations, and especially where your job requires you to sit in your chair for an extended period of time, your backrest will need to have an adjustable height so that you can get the maximum amount of support for your back. There are some backrests that can even be moved forward or backward. If the seat pan is deep, these features can be even more useful; but whatever you do, never sit in a chair for a long period of time without back support. You should adjust the chair instead, as this will protect your back while you work.

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Good Office Chairs Boast Great Features!


When discussing good office chairs it is important to point out the parts and features that make them good, and as such, some of those features – outlined below – will be the subject of this article. So before purchasing an office chair, the buyer should make sure that it comes with these features.

Backrest adjustment

A backrest adjustment can help to prevent or even alleviate the discomfort that is often associated with sitting for long periods of time. The features of a backrest adjustment include:

  • Backrest height – This feature allows the user to find a backrest height that will provide the most support for the lumbar portion of his/her lower back.
  • Backrest tilt – This feature will allow the user to adopt different postures while still keeping good support for the lower back. Users can also adjust the feature as needed.
  • Horizontal backrest movement – This feature isn’t the same as the tilt. It is different in the sense that it will move side to side, making the chair a little deeper for those who need it.

Chair height & seat pan

Chair height adjustment – Every office chair must have a height adjustment. With most chairs, a pneumatic lever is the most common method, as it allows users to readily adjust the height of their office chairs from a seated position. Office chairs of the past required users to place a foot on the base of their chairs and then spin it around and around to raise or even lower the height.

Seat pan characteristics – With a chair’s seat pan, users should look for the following characteristics:

  • Rounded edge – Found in front of the chair’s seat pan, this will prevent uncomfortable pressure in back of the legs or behind a user’s knees.
  • Seat pan depth – Between the back of a user’s knee and front of the chair there is usually a space about the size of a clenched fist. This will help maintain proper circulation for a user’s legs.
  • Seat pan tilt – This will allow room for posture changes as well as help to alleviate pressure on the back of thighs.
  • Fabric – Be on the lookout for durable and permeable material that will dissipate moisture and heat.

Armrests & stability

Armrests – An armrest shouldn’t interfere with a user’s tasks but should always provide room for the user to move. Armrests aren’t normally needed for keyboard use, although they can be used with reading or editing and even doing work on a desk. If you use office chairs with armrests, make sure to look for a chair with an adjustable height, adjustable width, and adequate padding.

Stability – A great office chair will have a five pronged base with the appropriate casters (soft for hard surfaces and hard for soft surfaces). Chairs with four prongs are less stable and prone to tipping sideways or backwards when users lean in one direction or another.