Ergonomic Chair Setup

Comfortable desk work begins with proper chair setup. Follow these helpful tips to ensure a proper ergonomic chair setup.

Chair Setup

• Push your hips as far back as they can go in the chair.
• Adjust the seat height so your feet are flat on the floor and your knees are equal to, or slightly lower than, your hips.
• Sometimes the desk height forces you to have the chair higher than you what will allow you to touch the ground.  If your feet don’t reach the ground put a small box under your desk to rest your feet on.
• The back of the chair should be at a 100°-110° reclined angle which should create an angle between your body and your thighs of 90° -100°.
  

  From UCLA Ergonomics

• Make sure your upper and lower back are supported. Use extra cushions at the small of your back if your chair does not have adequate support.
• Adjust the armrests so that your shoulders are down and relaxed.
• If your armrests prevent your shoulders from being in a relaxed position, remove them.

• Keep your body straight with the head and neck upright and looking forward, not to the side. Do not hunch over or slouch.

OTHER TIPS

• Don’t cross your legs while sitting. This can cut off circulation and/or lead to hip problems.
• Make sure your chair seat has a soft, downward curved edge so that it does not dig into the back of your thighs. This can also cut off circulation.
• When purchasing a chair the best feature is its ability to adjust each component separately.
• If sitting is too painful, consider a standing workstation.

 

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