Your office chair is adjustable for the ultimate comfort while you work. Underneath your seat, you may notice several different knobs. There are 5 knobs that you should know about when it comes to adjusting your office chair.
Every knob underneath your seat has a different purpose. The most commonly used knob is for tilting the chair, and on most chairs, it’s the largest knob. However, there are many other ways to adjust your chair for ultimate comfort and each one is worth testing out to make sure your seat is just right.
Are you serious to know exactly what all those knobs are for under your office chair?
Keep reading to learn what they are so you can get the maximum level of comfort while you work. However, please keep in mind every office chair is designed differently, so there is a chance your chair may not have all of the knobs we mention today.
Knob 1: The tilt tension knob
The most commonly used knob that is found on nearly every office chair is the tilt tension knob.
This knob is usually located underneath the seat towards the front. It’s typically the first knob people feel under their chair because it’s big and round.
This knob is used to increase or decrease the tension in your chair so you can tilt it.
This knob allows you to tilt the chair forward while you work to relieve some of the pressure on your lower back. It can also be used to tilt the chair backward when you would like to lean back for a break.
You can use this knob to decrease the pressure and tilt the chair. Once you have the right position, simply turn the knob the opposite way to lock it in place. If you’re not sure which way you should be turning the knob, take a look underneath the seat at the knob. Most knobs will be listed with + and – symbols so you know which way to turn the knob.
Knob 2: Adjusting the chair’s height
People come in many different shapes and sizes, and office chairs are prepared for that. You may notice a knob that’s sticking out of the side underneath the chair. This knob is to adjust the height of your chair. If your chair is too low, you can raise it by a few inches. However, if you feel that it’s too high, you can also move it down.
Getting the proper height with your office chair is important for ergonomics. If you are too low or too high, you could develop lower back and leg pain over time. It’s important to be level with the keyboard and desk while you are working to avoid putting extra pressure in these areas.
Adjusting the height with this knob is very easy. Simply pull on the knob and use your weight to lift the chair up or push it down. When raising the chair, you may need to pull it up slightly. Once you have the chair at the right height, you can release the knob.
Knob 3: Back support adjustment
If your office chair has a knob that’s directly beneath the backrest, then it is for adjusting the back of your chair. Just because you’re able to get the chair to the right height doesn’t mean that the backrest is right for you. You may find that the backrest on your chair needs to be higher or lower to get the best support.
You can adjust the back of your chair by turning this knob until enough tension has been released to adjust the chair’s backrest. All you need to do is tighten the knob once you get the chair at the right height.
Knob 4: Get the right angle
Many office chairs are designed to spend a lot of hours in at a time. When you spend a lot of time in your office chair, you need to make sure it’s positioned to keep your posture in good shape. Chairs that have this feature will typically locate the knob towards the front of the chair, sticking out slightly.
This feature is slightly different than the tilt tension because it allows you to adjust the angles of the seat and the backrest separately. If you turn the knob clockwise, you can adjust the angle of the seat. To adjust the angle of the back, simply turn the knob counterclockwise.
Knob 5: Adjust the seat’s depth
Another feature that some office chairs come with is a knob to adjust the seat’s depth. This is very helpful to ensure that your legs don’t lose circulation when you spend a lot of time working. Many people don’t realize that if they sit with the back of their knees touching the chair that this could happen to them.
It’s best to leave approximately 1 inch of room from the back of your knees to the seat. With the knob that adjusts the seat’s depth, it’s easier for people to get their seat in the ideal position for comfort.
If your office chair has this feature, it will be easy to spot. Most office chairs are designed with all of the knobs on the right side. However, this knob is the only one you will find on the left side under the office chair.
Final thoughts-
Office chairs have several knobs that allow people to adjust the seat for maximum comfort. This is very important when you spend several hours a day in your seat. If your office chair isn’t set up for proper ergonomics, you could experience pain in your lower back and legs. This happens because of all the additional pressure on those areas of the body.
To avoid this, always take advantage of the knobs under your seat. There are 5 common knobs that are on nearly every office chair:
- The tilt tension knob
- Height adjustment knob
- Back support adjustment
- Angle adjustment
- Seat depth adjustment
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