How to Make Your Chair More Ergonomic

Ergonomic office chairs are expensive, but using poorly designed seating that isn't ergonomic can encourage the development of serious physical problems. You can make your own office chair more ergonomic for just a few dollars or less with materials you may already have on hand. This lets you reap the benefit of an ergonomically correct chair without having to pay the extreme cost. Keep in mind that the ergonomic adjustments must be tailored to fit your body, so if more than one person uses the same chair, they will probably each need to make their own ergonomic adjustments.

Things You'll Need

• Folded towels, cushions or pillows
• Phone books
• Roll of paper towels

Instructions

1. Place your palms flat on your work surface. If your forearms aren't level with the surface, you need to adjust your chair up or down until they are. If your chair isn't adjustable, you can effectively raise your seat by sitting on a folded towel, on a cushion, or a pillow. If your chair is too high but can't adjust downward, however, you're out of luck and need to either purchase a new chair or find a way of raising your workstation up to the proper height.

2. Check your feet: Do they touch the ground, or are they left to swing now that your chair is adjusted to the proper height? If your feet don't touch the ground, place a phone book underneath them as a footrest.

3. Roll up a towel and place it in the small of your back to help maintain a natural curve in your spine. If there's a large gap between your back and the backrest of the chair when you sit up straight, you may use a roll of paper towels to support your back instead.

4. Remember to sit up straight, with both feet flat on the floor or your footrest: Even the most ergonomic chair will not help you if you insist on slouching.