Let's face the facts, work typically takes up the majority of most people's days with some of us spending up to 12 hours a day in a seated position. Whether you work 4 hours a day seated or 10, chances are you have experienced some form of discomfort while working. While sometimes it can be expensive to relieve work related injuries pertaining to back pain as most of the time this can only be remedied with the use of an ergonomic office chair, leg discomfort is an easier and less costly problem to fix.
Do you ever feel your legs start to feel uncomfortable while sitting in your office chair? Maybe they start to feel heavy or maybe you begin to experience the irritating feeling of your legs falling asleep. This pain can eventually turn to numbness and move into your thighs creating a distracting and uncomfortable work environment. Luckily most leg related pain experienced on the job can be easily relieved by simply adjusting your current office chair.
Leg pain can be attributed to a number of different factors related to your office chair, which is why it is important to determine which pertains to your circumstances. The first common culprit may be that your chair is not adjusted at the right height for your legs. This is a common problem that shorter or taller people experience, however it can affect anyone who does not have their chair height adjusted properly. You should be able to keep your feet firmly placed on the ground or on a foot rest, with your knees bent at a 90° angle. If your chair can not be properly adjusted to you, consider looking for a petite office chair if you are shorter or a big and tall office chair if you are taller. These speciality chairs are specifically designed for users that do not fit the typical office chair mold. High quality and more ergonomic manufacturers will offer alternative size gas lifts allowing users who find that a standard gas lift is not advisable for them to obtain the correct seat height setting.
In order to determine the seat height needed for you to sit comfortably without experiencing leg pain you will need to take a few simple measurements. First, measure from the floor to the inside of your knee-joint without shoes on. Once you have this measurement, check to see if your chair will adjust a little up or down from this measurement, measuring from the floor to the top of the seat. If your chair is capable of reaching this height, then you should be able to find your ideal setting. If your chair is too short or too tall, you may want to consider purchasing a different office chair that will allow for this height adjustment.
After adjusting your seat height, if you still find that the pain persists other culprits could be an inadequate seat depth or poor quality foam on the seat cushion. The depth of the seat is crucial as this determines how much coverage your thighs will receive when sitting. A chair with a seat depth that is too short will not provide the support needed to sit comfortably for hours on end. If a seat depth is too long, it can cut off the circulation to your legs and jut into the back of your knee caps. You also may find yourself scooting forward and sitting in an unnatural position which will lead to back pain. Unfortunately, if your seat depth is not where you need it to be and you do not have a seat slider to pull out your seat if a longer depth is needed, your only option may be to purchase a new office chair. The same can be said for a cheap office chair that's seat foam has been flattened or deteriorated from use.
If you find you are in the market for a new chair, make sure to take the proper measurements as aforementioned to ensure that your chair will meet your needs. Most online retailers provide all the information needed to ensure that you choose the correct chair including the chair's seat depth and seat height range. If you can not locate this information, be sure to ask a customer service representative prior to ordering. When trying to determine the quality of a chair's seat foam, a good place to start looking is at the manufacturer's warranty. Most high quality manufacturers will have at least a 5 year warranty on their chair's seat foam. And above all else, be certain not to sit in a chair that is fixed in height such as a dining room chair or meeting chair as not only will you experience leg pain but you may experience back pain as well.
Chelsea Alves is the marketing manager for Sitbetter.com, a company with more than 30 years experience in the office seating and office furniture industry. Dedicated to finding the best chairs for you, at the best price possible, with the best customer service available. For more information on high quality office chairs please visit http://www.sitbetter.com/
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