| This article explains how to quickly and easily set | | | | You need to adjust the arms of your chair so |
| up your office chair for your own personal | | | | that your lower arms are supported on the arms |
| requirements. | | | | and are at the same height as your desktop |
| There are really only five adjustments that you | | | | surface. You should also be able to reach your |
| need concern yourself with on an office seat and | | | | keyboard and mouse without stretching. |
| they are. | | | | If you don't have this adjustment on your chair it |
| - Seat Height | | | | probably won't be possible for you to achieve this |
| - Back Height | | | | balance, unless you are lucky and fall into the |
| - Arm Height | | | | weight range the manufacturer designed it for. |
| - Seat Depth | | | | 4. Seat Depth |
| - Tilt Tension | | | | This is the feature commonly missing from many |
| I'm going to assume that you have a good quality | | | | office chairs. Nonetheless, it's one of the most |
| ergonomic office chair that has the capability to | | | | important functions to insist on when buying a |
| handle the above adjustments. If not, you should | | | | new chair. |
| think seriously about investing in a new chair that | | | | Quite simply, it allows you to set the chair's seat |
| allows these settings to be configured to your | | | | depth to match your leg length. You should aim to |
| needs. | | | | be able to place a clenched fist between the front |
| After all, a chair is replaceable - unlike your back | | | | edge of the chair and the back of your lower leg. |
| and you will find long term postural benefits from | | | | If you find that the back of your legs are either |
| a properly adjusted chair. | | | | hard against the chair front or conversely more |
| Let's look at each in a little more detail. | | | | than 3''-4'' from the chair front, then you should |
| 1. Seat Height | | | | seriously consider changing your chair for one that |
| Nearly all swivel office chairs have pneumatic gas | | | | has this feature. You'll find a more detailed |
| lift adjustment, so it should be really quick and | | | | discussion about the importance of seat depth |
| easy to set the seat's height. | | | | adjustment in this article. |
| When correctly adjusted your feet should be | | | | 5. Tilt Tension |
| resting firmly on the floor with your legs set | | | | A good quality chair will allow you to adjust the |
| approximately at right angles, use a footrest if | | | | amount of tension needed to move backwards |
| you have difficulty reaching the floor with your | | | | and forwards naturally in your chair. You shouldn't |
| feet. | | | | feel the need to force your body into the chair's |
| 2. Back Height | | | | back when leaning back, nor should it just fall |
| You need to adjust the height of your chair back | | | | away with little or no resistance. |
| so that it gives you good support to the lower | | | | If you follow these five simple chair adjustments |
| part of your back as this will tend to align the rest | | | | you can quickly set up your seat correctly for |
| of your back correctly. Also, when you are sitting | | | | your individual needs. If you present office chair |
| in your chair your back should be in contact with | | | | doesn't have all these key adjustment features, |
| and gaining support from the chair's back. | | | | you really ought to consider replacing it, especially |
| 3. Arm Height | | | | if you suffer pain when working in it. |