Make your desk or craft table more ergonomic with a footrest

One of the top causes of chronic back pain is sitting for long periods. Whether it’s a job that keeps you sitting all the time or a hobby such as sewing, you can often avoid back problems by simply changing the way you sit. If your feet don’t reach the ground easily and comfortably, or if your knees or any part of your legs or hips feels uncomfortable, a slanting footrest could be your solution.

Slanting footrests allow your legs to rest in a more natural position, with the knees open to about a 75 degree angle rather than a 90 degree. The human body isn’t designed to sit. Our ancestors were much too active and on the move, so the 90 degree angle for the knees, over long periods, can cause aches and pains to develop.

If your feet don’t reach the ground, your first instinct might be that you need a lower chair, which in turn means you’ll need a lower desk or table. In truth, the slanting footrest may be a better option because of that angle it allows for your knees. That angle takes pressure off blood vessels and muscles, making it easier for blood to keep circulating (circulation is one of the main issues with sitting for long periods).

Do you have to rush out and spend money to get a slanting footrest? No. While there are a variety of good ones out there at affordable prices, you can also throw together a makeshift footrest that will work just fine. Just take a look at the footrest pictured here to get an idea what you’re trying to create: you want your feet at about a 75 degree angle to your calves, and your knees open to a similar angle. This opens your leg joints to allow better blood flow and less muscle fatigue. Once you understand the principle, rigging something yourself is easy.

• Find a box around your home and fill it with soft stuff like towels or wadded newspapers. When your feet rest on it, they’ll naturally crush the box a little with their weight. Just get your feet and knees at a comfortable angle, and the box will support your position.
• Pillows serve the same purpose. Pretty embroidered throw pillows can also look nice (and much more homey than a footrest made for an office desk).
• Your desk or crafting table may have a shelf along the back underside that’s about where you’d like to rest your feet. Just build it up with something soft and comfortable so you can get your feet at the correct angle.

I actually prefer making myself a soft footrest to using a hard one made for office desks. I find it even more relaxing to my feet and legs.

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Last Updated: March 18, 2011
Copyright: March 18, 2011