6 Reasons to Use an Ergonomic Footrest Under Your Desk

1. Better Posture If you spend a long time sitting in one position, regardless of whether it’s at work, in a car, or when you’re traveling, you may often find that you feel stiff and achy when you get up. And if you spend a long time sitting in that same position, the effects may be magnified. With all the time we spend sitting at the office, and especially while typing at a computer, our posture can start to suffer. However, a footrest can help. 2. Improved Circulation There is no need to stand up and constantly roam around the office, but you can (and should) keep moving around while sitting at your desk. One of the simplest ways to do this is by using ergonomic foot support, which improves circulation and reduces your chance of having circulatory and cardiovascular problems. Along with using a footrest for motion, make a conscious effort to keep up a better posture by adjusting your position at your desk on a regular basis. Along with moving around periodically at your desk, try standing up for at least 10 minutes and stretch out. You can also try getting a standing desk, which gives you the advantage of standing and stretching when necessary without interrupting your workflow. 3. Fewer Back Problems Backaches and other back impairments represent one of the most common complaints among office workers. Disorders of the spine can be exacerbated by sitting for too long or sitting incorrectly at an office desk. They can also be caused by sitting in a poorly-fitting chair or working at an uncomfortable desk. Propping your feet up, however, can keep you from slouching. It also relieves pressure from your spine, which in turn alleviates back problems. When sitting, you should try to lean back slightly. Doing so reduces strain on the muscles around your spine and lumbar discs 4. Tension Relief for Your Feet Another advantage of footrests is their ability to keep your feet in a neutral position. This is especially true for women who may wear shoes with different size heels from one day to the next, such as high heels, sandals, or boots. Walking around in shoes of this height discrepancy and keeping your feet flat on the floor all day can strain the muscles and tendons in your feet, including the Achilles tendon. In turn, this can lead to foot pain and other foot problems. But keeping feet properly supported with footrests can make a tremendous difference in the health of your feet. 5. Less Pressure on Your Legs Sometimes, even sitting on an ergonomic chair is not enough to reduce aches and pains associated with office work. You might still find that you get aches and pains throughout the day that are only lessened when you stand up. Using an ergonomic footrest, however, allows you to remain seated for a longer period of time without discomfort. On especially busy days when you can’t get up for a while or during a long conference call, this type of support system for your body really comes in handy. 6. Natural Relaxation If you tend to tense up when you’re stressed, or if you are naturally fidgety, have the ability to roll your feet around can be a tremendous source of stress and anxiety relief. Moving your feet even just a little bit can ease tensions and reduce your blood pressure levels. Instead of dealing with nervous energy, you’ll be in a better position to be more effective and productive at work if you have the ability to channel your energy into other outlets. References: Gabriel A Koepp. Chair-based fidgeting and energy expenditure. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2016; 2(1): e000152. Waters TR, Dick RB. Evidence of health risks associated with prolonged standing at work and intervention effectiveness. Rehabil Nurs. 2015 May-Jun;40(3):148-65. Drury CG, Hsiao YL. et al. . Posture and performance: sitting vs. standing for security screening. Ergonomics. 2008;51(3):290. Nelson-Wong E, Callaghan JP. Changes in muscle activation patterns and subjective low back pain ratings during prolonged standing in response to an exercise intervention. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology. 2010a;20(6):1125–1133. Karakolis T, Callaghan JP. The impact of sit-stand office workstations on worker discomfort and productivity: A review. Applied Ergonomics. 2014;45:799–806.