Can an ergonomic footrest help me?
A good ergonomic footrest can be one of the most important items at your workstation. An ergonomic footrest is beneficial for people whose feet do not reach the floor. Many office chairs sold today are pretty tall, and shorter employees, whose feet barely reach the floor, will scoot away from their backrest to stabilize themselves. However, this “easy fix” solution will often cause discomfort in other areas. With the employee’s back away from the chair’s back, employees will often report lumbar and shoulder pain.
An ergonomic footrest might solve this problem. With an ergonomic footrest, a person can sit completely against their chair while keeping their shoulders and back in a neutral, comfortable position. In other words, with an ergonomic footrest, a shorter employee can keep their body at an elevated position while still maintaining comfort.
There are other advantages to a ergonomic footrest, even those whose feet do reach the floor. An ergonomic footrest will allow people to reduce the pressure on their thighs and buttocks. This is a great advantage for those sitting in their chair for long periods of time or those suffering from sciatica. Additionally, many of the footrests used today are adjustable. Adjustable footrests give people the ability change positions frequently, limiting body pressure and keeping soreness at bay.
Please note, people should never stand on a footrest and be conscious about walking near a footrest as it can be a tripping hazard. Additionally, people should measure exactly their height in relation to the table top before purchasing a footrest. A person might purchase a footrest and then realize that he or she can’t use it since there is not enough clearance for the thighs.
A trained ergonomic specialist can always help you purchase an appropriate ergonomic footrest. Whether your company is based in Los Angeles or on the outskirts of San Jose, at Ergonomics Advance, our ergonomic specialists come to your work and take the dimensions of your desk and workstations to make sure you are getting the right ergonomic products that meets your clients’ specific needs. We want to make sure you get the correct ergonomic products that meets your employees’ needs, saving you time and money. We want to make sure your employees can work productively and of course, work injury and pain free.
When I am asked the question, “Can an ergonomic footrest help me?” I usually answer “It can help depending on your height and the height of your desk and workstation. Let’s have you try a couple footrests to try to meet your specific needs.”
Thanks for reading,
Shaul Lent CEAS, MA, OTR/L