Foot Rests
Who should use a footrest
A short person.
Especially if your are 5,4″ or shorter. The majority of chairs do not cater for a person shorter than 5.4″ with the result that it can be 
very difficult to setup your office correctly. When you sit your feet should be flat on the floor. Even if you get a small chair, the table may still be too high to support optimum arm position. If you sit in this position one of two things will happen.
- Your feet will hang in the air. This creates pressure at the bottom of the thighs, cutting off blood circulation and leading to discomfort and pain.
- You put your feet on the floor, but to achieve this you have to sit forward in your seat. The result is that your back is away from the backrest and that you don’t get all the back support your chair is supposed to provide.
People who enjoy a bit of comfort in life
If your feet like a daily massage or like to stay comfortable the right kind of footrest can also benefit you.
Another thing. A footrest can also help even an average size person to get proper back support from the chair as you tend to sit back further in your chair – receiving all the back support from the backrest and lumbar support.
Benefits of using a foot rest
- Help with blood circulation, avoid blood circulation being cut-off, blood clots
- Help to setup office correctly
- Correct setup help to prevent or reduce back pain, as the backrest can do its job when the feet are supported and the back are against the backrest.
- Heated and massaging footrests significantly increase comfort levels.
Types of footrests
There are a wide variety of footrests, but we are specifically looking at footrests for the office here.
Non height adjustable footrests
Stay away or use a few bricks. It is much cheaper. Enough said.
Massaging footrests
Most types contain inbuilt rollers that massage the feet when you move them. Others contain bumps on the surface that also massage the feet as they are pulled over the bumps.
Heated Footrests
Now this is the type I like in the cold winter. It keeps the feet cozy warm, helping you to focus on your work instead of your cold feet.
Rocking Footrests
The design of this footrest encourages a gentle rocking motion. The main benefit rocking is increased blood circulation, which will reduce the likelihood of blood clots.
Gel Footrests
These footrest contain a gel pad to provide extra comfort to tired feet. Most pads can be removed when it is not needed or when it need to be cleaned. It is great for people who like to work barefoot.
What to look for when you buy a footrest
- Most important. You should be able to adjust the height of the footrest. This help you place your feet at the correct height which in turn help with the setup of the rest of your office furniture.
- The ability to adjust the angle of the footrest. It is also preferable if you can either lock the tilt in place or allow the feet to rock back and forth at will as this help with blood flow and circulation
- The surface of the footrest should provide enough grip to ensure the feet does not slip
- Make sure it is easy to clean otherwise it can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Luckily most are.
- The platform should be large enough for both feet.
- It should be solid and sturdy. The footrest must have enough weight at the bottom to ensure it does not tip over every time you move your feet.