The height of the seat is probably the most first adjustment we think of when it comes to ergonomic office chairs, and yet it is surprising the amount of people who have not given much thought to what the proper height adjustment should be.
The height adjustment is usually achieved by a lever (generally on the right side) beneath the sit. To lower the seat just sit on it and engage the lever and the chair will lower gradually. When you reach the right level you simply release the lever. Then to raise you simply need to follow the same process but ease your weight onto your feet as you carry out the adjustment.
There is something strangely satisfying as getting into a new chair and operating the pneumatic height adjustment. Through the magic of pressurised air our inner child emerges and sees us ride up and down, but eventually we need to decide at what level to stop at and get on with the real work.
So where to stop?
At its most basic you should be looking for a position where both your feet are comfortably and firmly positioned flat on the ground. Broadly speaking the angle at your knees should be around 90 degrees. As a general rule of thumb, if the seat comes to level with your knees when you are standing in front of it, you will not be far off the correct position.
Some seat pans will have a tilt function such that the seat pan can be tilted down such that there is a slight gradient from the top of your thighs down to your knees. This can be a very positive ergonomic position, and in this position the angle will naturally increase from the 90 degrees mentioned above.
In addition to the seat height, you should also ensure the seat is not pressing in on the back on the back of your knees. Make sure you adjust your seat so there is a small gap between the seat and your knees, say 1 inch.
If for whatever reason you find that your chair is still too high after reducing it the lowest height then you can accommodate this through a n appropriate footstool.
Comments