Work ergonomically at the right height
Why is the correct height of the table and chair so important?
We can only emphasize it again and again: incorrect sitting posture leads to enormous problems in the long term, and it is important to proactively prevent these instead of only acting when the first symptoms appear.
It's not without reason that the topic of ergonomics is on everyone's lips. Ergonomics means that the worker's environment should be optimally adapted to the task in order to make work as efficient, pleasant and healthy as possible.
When sitting permanently, this means that both the desk and chair should be adjusted as best as possible. The following advantages are then available:
- Promote relaxed neck muscles
- Relieves the strain on the hands and wrists when typing and working with the mouse for long periods of time
- Supports an upright sitting position for a straight back
- Improve concentration through better blood flow and optimal oxygen supply to the body and brain
- In the long term, all of this results in increased motivation and efficiency
Whether as an employer or as a self-employed person working from home: investing in good office furniture always pays off in the long term! But of course the table and chair also have to be adjusted correctly for the user.
How do you determine the correct height of your desk?
The first step to optimally setting up your office furniture is correct adjustment of your office chair. Make sure your feet are comfortably planted on the floor while your legs are at a 90° angle. Your back should be relaxed against the backrest and you should sit as upright and straight as possible.
Once you have achieved this, sit on the chair in front of your desk. Now it is important that your upper arms hang down comfortably and your shoulders are relaxed. The forearms should also form at least a 90° angle and be able to lie comfortably on the surface of the table without tensing or pulling up the shoulders. Your keyboard should be horizontal to your forearms so that your wrists also remain relaxed. If the keyboard is too high, use a padded rest for your wrists that you place in front of the keyboard.
If this sitting position cannot be achieved, please adjust the height of your desk until you feel comfortable and relaxed.
The following overview serves as a guideline:
| Body size | Table height |
|---|---|
|
approx. 160 - 171 cm |
65 - 69 cm |
|
approx. 172 - 181 cm |
69 - 73cm |
|
approx. 182 - 191 cm |
73-77cm |
|
approx. 192 - 201 cm |
77 - 81 cm |
Footrest - yes or no?
If you cannot achieve the sitting position described above due to your height, for example if the table or chair is too high, then a footrest can be helpful.
One Footrest makes sense if your desk cannot be adjusted downwards far enough and therefore the right angle of the forearms cannot be achieved while the feet are placed comfortably at the same time. Then you should adjust your chair a little higher and also use a footrest to ensure both the correct position for your arms and the right angle of your legs. The same applies if the chair cannot be adjusted downwards far enough. With a footrest you can compensate for the space between your feet and the floor.
Of course, you will also find a good selection of footrests for exactly this purpose. If space is possible, you should choose a desk with a worktop of at least 160 x 80 centimeters so that you can be at a suitable distance from the screen and keyboard and there is also enough space for other work materials. Last but not least, pay attention to the stability of the table, because only high-quality, height-adjustable models offer the necessary stability.
Always exactly the same height thanks to the memory switch
Our models with memory switches offer you the opportunity to save several presets and use them again immediately at the push of a button. This means you always maintain your exact height when you regularly switch between sitting and standing work and also have a flexible solution for alternating workstations.
We will help you set up your ergonomic workplace
We offer you in our Guide In-depth insights and tips on how to find the optimal desk height and many other interesting topics on ergonomics in the workplace. Find out more, use our consulting service and start upgrading your workplace today.
