Posture Therapist Explains How To Adjust Your Office Chair | Get The Best Of Your Ergo Swivel Chair

Here is how to adjust your office office chair to your body.
This is the first step when adjusting your workplace... but many people don't know adjust their ergo swivel chair!
They don't know about the controls, knobs, levers, functionalities... and their get lower back pain, mid back pain, neck pain or else.
An ergonomic chair can help correct your posture when sitting, but it needs to be adjusted well; otherwise, it can actually cause pain!
This video is essential to ensure proper ergonomics in the office. We will look at
00:00 intro & chair height
01:31 seat pan depth
03:34 backrest height
height of the lumbar support
04:17 adjust the armrests
05:11 headrest
06:02 backrest angle and tilt mechanism
08:33 desk adjustment and footrest
depending on the height of your desk.
Watch this video and learn how you can find the right sitting posture on your ergo chair!
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Pain in the back, shoulder, arms or any other musculoskeletal pain should not govern your life.
A lot of the pain you feel is caused or aggravated by wrong posture, poor ergonomics and a lack of specific exercises for your muscles and joints. Giving you the tools to resolve these issues is the reason why I created this self care channel.
If you need more, check out these two innovative offers that will truly empower you in the subtle art of posture correction:
- you can get THE POSTURE MANUAL, my best-selling book with 15 readers-only posture correction videos - only if you buy it from my website: oliviergirard.ch/en/boutique/...
- to enjoy a personal coach and a lifetime membership to my private Facebook group, consider joining THE POSTURE ACADEMY: oliviergirard.ch/en/posture-a...
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Medical Disclaimer
All information, content, and material of this website is for informational purposes only and are not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.
Full disclaimer:
oliviergirard.ch/en/ytdisclai...

[@stephaniebrawner7626]

I've watched so many videos on this and I have to say this was the best I've seen. My sitting position is so much more comfortable already! Thank you!

[@OlivierGirard]

thank you Stephanie :) !!

[@xolisa25]

If only my chair had all those adjustments possible...

[@DrGraaff]

After every instruction: "Mkay?" Makes me giggle XD

[@OlivierGirard]

Yep, we all have public-speaking (bad) habits. I’m aware of this one that I need to fix 😄

[@DrGraaff]

@@OlivierGirard Keep it! It is kinda entertaining. I have also watched your other videos and saved as favourites. Awesome guides!

[@skeliskull]

Amazing guide. I was pretty much doing everything wrong - feels weird to adjust at first but I already feel more comfortable in my chair. Who knew a small adjustment makes so much difference!

[@naabaabaan7695]

Just discovered your channel and started with this video. This is so helpful, thank you so much for making these videos! Started an office job this year (switched from an active job in petro chem industry ) and noticed this sitting a lot is starting to take its toll in unexpected ways.

[@tiagosilvestre6703]

This video is great! Thank you so much for the specificity

[@JimKll]

This guy knows what he's talking about. You are doing a great job sir!

[@OlivierGirard]

thank you my friend!!

[@khoi5591]

This was very helpful! Thanks Oliver!

[@moobengy]

Great! Very helpful. Thank you.

[@PizzaTimeGamingChannel]

Thank you so much for this video! As a long time PC gamer who is now in his mid-30's,, I can't sit like an idiot like I used to for years and years as a PC gamer nerd in my teens and 20's. Gotta have that good posture!

[@OlivierGirard]

Honestly... I do feel the effect of age as well! We're not getting any younger 😅

[@justingentile4382]

same!!

[@zharnadir3473]

By fay the most detailed video about sitting , thank you

[@slaps1]

very glad I found this video. I have the same chair so that was super helpful!

[@generator8201]

Best video for adjustment of chair all features explained.

[@jimichan7649]

Very well presented. Thank you very much!

[@junenacpil5724]

This is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@OlivierGirard]

Thank you & happy new year, dear!!!

[@theeucguy]

Just a simple. Thank you!

[@TheCostantinus]

Did I watch a 10 min video about how to sit on a chair? Yes. And I don't regret it. You've been very helpful, thank you!

[@OlivierGirard]

😂… we all do things we’d never have expected !!

[@lironavineri]

You are amazing!!! Thank you so much for your videos

[@OlivierGirard]

Thank you Liron!! It's so cool to see guy like you appreciating the effort :)

[@clogmonkey]

Thank you so much! I got a decent chair from my job to support working from home during covid, but I have been getting descent back pain recently so I searched out this video. As someone who both works and relaxes at my desk, I feel like this should help. Kia ora from New Zealand 😊

[@OlivierGirard]

I love the idea that the planet is a village :) I'm glad that a French guy living in Switzerland after learning his job in the Netherlands and Germany could help someone in New Zealand :) !!

[@mafesas]

Great video Olivier, Thanks for sharing your knowledge Loved the way you explained things, it was very useful for me.

[@OlivierGirard]

Many thanks for the feedback, my friend. My field needs better explanation, so I'm happy if I could provide it!!

[@sampatrao2219]

Great work sir😊

[@jasonschick8433]

Merci beaucoup! je vais essayer dans cet ordre.

[@ajaythakur4186]

great information . well explained.

[@kamalmohamed2443]

Thank you so much,, very helpful

[@ciaramacapinlac9860]

Thank you so much! Can't get enough of your videos as they have been very helpful especially now I'm experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome. Have bought a new office chair and will keep in mind your advice. Thanks and more blessings!

[@OlivierGirard]

Thanks for the feedback, Ciara!! One more thing you could do is get a vertical mouse to reduce the risk of direct pressure from the desk on the carpal tunnel. It usually also reduces wrist extension (another source of carpal tunnel pressure). The one I have good experience with is the Logitech MX Vertical, but there are others

[@ciaramacapinlac9860]

@@OlivierGirard yes sir, i also bought a vertical mouse after watching your other video. Thank you! 😊👍

[@Onlyhuman1972]

Thank you for this informative video smile😊

[@rikaolson5005]

Helpful!

[@aidanburns5713]

thank you so much my chair was making my back ache but now its fixed

[@GOEEEZ]

Thank you for this. I have the same chair and had some problems finding a good position for the lumbar support

[@OlivierGirard]

watch this and tell me if it helps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4mwfXuohNiNqM0 😉

[@saber-med]

thank you

[@TheIcemanModdeler]

I’m a 3d character artist, been using the Hag pulse for a while, completely removed my back pain but it doesn’t have much padding so added extra padding but it does get a bit uncomfortable after a while because of that. Thinking of getting the more expensive version or an alternative. Working long hours drawing on a Wacom Intuos tablet requires either a saddle seat or forward tilt in a chair or just sitting backwards.

[@jakobb11]

Thanks for this, I've actually got the exact same Kinnarps chair you have but It hasnt really helped me with my posture. After making some slight adjustments, the difference is great!

[@OlivierGirard]

Well done!!!

[@shizyninjarocks]

Thanks, my upper back is in constant pain and I can't figure out why. This video set me in the right direction.

[@OlivierGirard]

Super nice to hear! Thanks for the feedback :) Maybe you will also be interested in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioDHkJhrnr9sqq8

[@boomstick900]

How do you feel one year later?

[@theclimaxinternational3491]

Best Ergo Swivel Chair

[@Anreii]

thanks a ton for this, may I ask if you don't have a great posture to start with is it normal for an ergonomical chair to cause some discomfort and possibly pain at first? I keep seeing mixed opinions about a 1-2 week adjustment period. got myself a cheaper but well rated ergonomic chair (sihoo m18) but the top of the lumbar support digged into my spine ridges in all height and depth positions... I removed it, hopefully due to the mesh lumbar area of the chair being shaped and taught I'll still be supported. Feels quite comfy now but still feeling a bit of pain sitting against the chair back, probably because the lumbar support hurt my spine so badly lol. Even sleeping it's still slightly sore. being on a college budget and trying to buy a good chair is not fun :(

[@fhowland]

Great video. The issue I seem to have, being 6'2 and having very long femurs, is that with the seatiing area not slid back forward too much, I have a lot of leg 'overhang', meaning my knees stick out about 4-5" past the end of the seating cushion, thus putting more pressure on my butt.

[@OlivierGirard]

yeah, I have another video on the topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2LOhXmggs-kY80. More pressure is for sure, excessive pressure may not be necessarily the case. Do you get out of your chair every 30 min at least?

[@peruchitamolinera]

Thanks for the video. Which chair are you using?. Which model?. I am using the Steelcase Please V2 and part of my upper back touches the chair back even when I sit down moving my pelvis the way you showed (backwards touching the lower seat back), which is causing pain in my shoulders and neck, as the Steelcase Please chair has a hard padding.

[@Azor101]

I have the ledderra from Cas (chair). I can't seem to feel the lumbar support at all no matter how I adjust the chair, only when I fully press my back and shoulders against the backrest but this leads to me not sitting upright at all. I guess it's just not a good chair of the backrest just sucks? If so, do you have any suggestion for a good ergonomic chair? I am 6'3 tall. As always thanks for the video's.

[@oscarafonso3593]

This video deserves all the praise, it's like I'm having a proper medical appoitment. I subscribed your channel. Would you say that lombar support pillows and seat pillows (with the hollow area in the back) are a good way to upgrade a cheaper chair to reduce back pain and mainly sciatica nerve problems (I suppose that this strange pain in one buttock comes from that) and hemorrhoids? Thanks you.

[@OlivierGirard]

Thank you, Oscar!! Your feedback made my day, and I appreciate to now have you as a subscriber 😊! I do recommend lumbar cushions indeed (see this video on working from home, around 5'52'' I talk about them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJDZfqqFmZ5qkLM). However, they should not be where you mention, but slightly lower, i.e. at belt level: their goal is to support the pelvis and prevent it from tilting back, not to fill in the lordosis (i.e. the hollow part of the back). Seat pillows is a big topic: it depends. I do advise some with special cuts if people have had injuries (e.g., coccyx fracture). But I don't advise angled cushions: you want the seat pan to be horizontal, otherwise the pelvis tilts in one direction or the other, which either hollows or rounds your back. Regarding the pain in your buttocks... have a look at this video, you might recognize it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnm7noRuhdljhMU. On the topic of hemorrhoids, I'm less competent. I guess that you want to avoid direct pressure on them, which has to do with the shape of the cushion (maybe foresee some cuts as mentioned above) and its firmness... but that's more intuition-based than evidence-based. Does this make sense and help you?

[@oscarafonso3593]

​@@OlivierGirard I'm humbled to have been provided with such an amazing and personalized guide from a specialist like you. You have been very helpful and it all makes perfect sense. I'm a young guy (33yo) who works on PC all day and I feel like I have to start taking care of my health and my body, instead of getting used to feeling unconfortable much of the time, because it will only get worse If I don't do nothing. I know a healthy body is the foundation for a healthy and productive mind, and I don't to neglect that :). I have actually ordered seat and lumbar support cushions before I saw your reply, and I'm happy to have decided, at the last minute, to go for a straight horizontal seat cushion instead of the shapped one, that had a big height difference between the rear and front edges. Thank you so much for your reply, it's touching to see that there are still people so available and interested in helping others. Keep up the amazing work with your channel, you provide precious information in the most efficient way.

[@OlivierGirard]

@@oscarafonso3593 Thank you very much for these kind and encouraging words, you made my day. I can only advise you to take great care of your body indeed: every day, I see dramas in the life of people who ignored the early signs of pain! Feel free to ask any question you may have, as this is giving me new topics to post on 😊

[@OlivierGirard]

@@oscarafonso3593 this new video is for you, Oscar: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXuvhoqKgbaqhKs 😉!

[@TheNugettinage]

Thanks for this! Clear and straightforward, much better than the focusing graphs that usually come up when looking up this stuff.

[@tuexss]

Three questions: 1. You said behind the knee should be one fist space to the edge, but your settings looks like it's just 1-2 cm. Is the fist rule only for very tall people? 2. My lumbar support is not adjustable in height but in strength. How strong should I put it? 3. You said the basic tilt should be "normal upright". what exactly does that mean if the chair doesn't have a default position but goes back and front at will. Is it 90° to the floor?

[@farshad-hasanpour]

I'm going to save this video and show it to everyone else

[@OlivierGirard]

please do so... much more awareness is needed among the general population!!

[@peugeotCitroen2CV]

I have one of these kinnarps 6000 chairs and no matter how i adjust it i still have a sore back and neck. I find the lumbar support sits too far out, its something in a car i would normally have fully retracted. Is there a chance the chair just does not suit me? In the kinnarps chair i almost feel my back gets a bit numb where the lumbar pushes into it, and thats after adjusting it as per the video. Only other thing i can think of is that at the moment im doing a lot of writing on the desk for studying, which needs a fair bit of looking down could that cause it?

[@OlivierGirard]

Hey! It's true that the lumbar support of the Kinnarps 6000 /8000 / Plus sticks out quite a bit... but that's mostly a problem for people who have their shoulder blades too far back. To make sure it isn't your case, check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioDHkJhrnr9sqq8 Next to that, looking down is definitely a problem... which isn't easy to resolve. Leo had the same issue, and I advised him to try and tilt his desk: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6jbepmJntKqhqc. Let me know if this could help you too!

[@davidjuleene1637]

Hello. Great video. Can you please tell me what chair is featured in this video. I am looking for a chair with a tall and adjustable headrest - the one on this chair looks great. Thanks kindly

[@OlivierGirard]

It's the Kinnarps Plus 8... and indeed, that's the most adjustable headrest I have ever seen on the market!

[@olphay]

Thanks for the amazing useful channel . I have hm embody chair and the arm rest is not even . The left armrest is slightly taller by 0.6cm . Is there a range that can be normal like between 0 to 1 cm or it should exactly even ?

[@OlivierGirard]

You know, the body isn't exactly symmetric, neither is the posture, neither is the floork, etc... never. Furthermore, the armrests shouldn't be used all the time as I explain here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4vUh4N4mrSbsKM. So I would definitely not worry about this...

[@csibesz07]

Thank you. I wish this chair wasn't as expensive, as the sellers specialize only for companies buying in batches in my country...

[@brentschmogbert]

Same for me. I ended up buying 20 and then I sold the remaining 19 for a profit! So in the end my chair was not only free but I also made a bit money on the side 👌

[@fantazjusz]

Olivier, that was very helpful, thank you! It seems that the chair is perfect for your height. May I ask you how tall you are? Don't the sports-car-shaped seat and back of the 8+ model feel too limiting to you?

[@OlivierGirard]

Nothing confidential about my height 😅: I'm 1.73m. I'm quite comfortable on the +8, honestly. I have seen a few people who were finding it too narrow indeed, but they were either really overweight or giants. Most of my clients love it too

[@goblack3661]

Thank you very much for the video. It's still unclear for me how to set the backrest and seat. Here I mean tilting of the seat (is it level with the ground, is it bending forward, backward) and angle between backrest and seat (is the backrest at 90 degrees angle with seat). Any guideline here would be much appreciated. Also, I see in my new chair (Ergocentric scentric hybrid) that as I lean on the chair, my t-shirt goes up my lower back and it's super annoying. But that might be because I'm using one of those footrest that are at an angle and move (I don't really need it, I thought it was ergonomically good to be able to alternate between feet on the ground and the footrest).

[@OlivierGirard]

You're welcome, dear!! Here are 2 videos that you might find relevant: - reg. the seat pan angle: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX6apWZmesZ_mLc - reg. the backrest: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioDHkJhrnr9sqq8 Reg. the footrest, have a look at this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4LFm5ivbamnnrs. Honestly, I would try to alternate sit & stand rather than on the footrest & off the footrest 🙂

[@alexbenitezart9520]

Thank you for the tips, could you share a link of the chair you are using on the video? Do you recommend it? Thanks!

[@OlivierGirard]

You're welcome! My chair is a Kinnarps Plus 8: :www.kinnarps.com/products/seating/task-chairs/plus/. I do recommend it indeed, yep :)

[@APFC95]

thank you so much! this was very helpful. i got a new ergonomic chair and every pain that was caused by my old cheap chair was fixed, except i started to get mid to lower back pain, wich i never got before and i was wondering if it was the chair that was not appropriate for me or that i was just using muscles that i wanst using before in the cheap chair as the new chair is making me seat more straight, or even that i didnt adjust the new chair correrctly. with your video i could see that it was the 2nd and 3rd option. im used to seatig like this 8:11 for many years and also i had a feeling that my footrest (wich is the one you say not to use) was bothering me in this new chair, and turns out i was right! again thank you so mch! this was very helpful

[@OlivierGirard]

Thanks for the comprehensive feedback, Paula!! It's so great witnessing so many people taking things seriously and using my videos to improve their working conditions... thereby fixing their health! Congrats for doing this (mental and financial) effort, and please tell your family and friends how much this stuff is important!!

[@APFC95]

@@OlivierGirard hello! thank you for responding, uppon further use of the chair and using your video as a guide for better posture i realized the chair was in fact too big! im 1,74 and i had to return 2 chairs before as they where both small, but this time it was the opposite. i gave the chair to my brother and i will share your video with him (he is a lot taller than me) and i think he will very much appreciate the chair and the advice :) that said i can now sit a lot better in my old chair and have a lot better posture while i find a new replacement all because of your videos. so thank you again. you are doing very important work. cheers!

[@OlivierGirard]

@@APFC95 Thank you Paula!! It feels nice to read you words, and I'm glad that my work could help you - as well as your brother: 2 for 1 :) !!

[@johanbollen3083]

Great explanation. I was looking at these Kinnarps chairs but can't choose between the free float and the synchronised versions, the 6000 or 8000 and the plus 6 or plus 8. Is it just personal preference? What do most people choose. At the Kinnarps shop where I live I could only try the 6000 and plus 6 chair. I think you said I'm another video you liked the 8 series over the 6 series. But why? Also, when using the headrest my head was looking up. It would've been nice to be able to lean your head while looking a movie on the screen. I was not able to adjust the headrest to achieve this position. Is this to be expected with these chairs?

[@OlivierGirard]

Many great questions here, Johan... thanks for being so precise :) !! 6000 and +6 are the same mechanisms, with different shapes of cushions. Same for 8000 and +8. The cushions of 6000 / 8000 are more "classical", i.e. rather "flat shaped". In the + series, the cushions are more like sports seats. Small people like me like this, but bigger people may feel a bit tight in the chair. In Switzerland, Kinnarps advertises the + series more than the 6000/8000 because it is newer, but both are (as far as I know) still available. The mechanism of the 6000 / +6 is called free float, i.e. seat pan and backrest move independently from each other: one can tilt in one direction and the other in the other, or in the same. The mechanism of 8000 / +8 is called synchronous, i.e. when the backrest tilts, so does the seat pan (I don't remember the exact ratio: maybe 2-3° in the backrest = 1° in the seat pan or so). Both mechanisms can be blocked. Hence, I use the 6-series when I need to do some very fine adjustment because of a specific pathology, and then I lock the chair. But most people will find this too complex. Furthermore, when they leave the tilt mechanism of the 6-series free, they feel a lack of support because everything (backrest and seat pan) moves. This unstable feeling isn't on the +8 (my own chair), because the movement is more guided. All of the clients that I send to the Kinnarps showroom in Geneva prefer the +8 over the +6. Does this answer your question, Johan?

[@johanbollen3083]

@@OlivierGirard This is a great explanation Olivier. Thank you very much. I haven't decided yet on a chair. I was able to test some Håg chairs and some of them were really comfortable. I think they also use some kind of synchronous mechanism. I was disappointed however by the price of the more comfortable chairs (the Tribute and Excellence). They are more so called 'executive' models apparently. Which begs the question if some of these cheaper ergonomic chairs are meant to keep you in a 'working' position, but are not really meant to be to comfortable. I tried some cheaper models and they were kind of 'stiff', I would say. You won't get any back pain but you are not really invitied to take a seat either, I would say. I would prefer a chair inviting me to go sit and write a book or so.

[@phongdinh4811]

Hey Olivier, probably weird to dig up an old comment, but since I'm buying a Kinnarps I've got to ask. Is there any advantage to the sport-type seat compared to the flat-shaped seat?

[@DD-ig2zy]

Thank you! Very useful!

[@methodinsane]

Hi Thanks for the video, it's very informative. This chair is a make that they have in my clients office but I don't know what brand/model it is. Can you please tell me?

[@OlivierGirard]

Sure: it's the Kinnarps Plus 8 :)

[@methodinsane]

@@OlivierGirard Cool thanks. That makes sense since my client is Swedish :D I recently got a second hand Haworth Zody, I'm getting used to it. Thanks for all the good tips.

[@kfirmj]

I have a a chair that also can adjust the lumber support depth (taking it in and out not just up and down) how should I adjust that?

[@OlivierGirard]

You deflate it, sit on your sitting bones against the lumbar support, and then inflate the lumbar support until you feel just supported (i.e. no feeling of the pelvis being pushed forward). It should just feel like your pelvis stays in place when you relax your lower back muscles. It can be that you re-adjust during the day... so do I in the car :)

[@zerefdragneel5767]

lock lever mechanism for my kinnarps plus 6 is not really working anymore. When ever i tried to set back rest to certain position and lock the position, back rest went back to original position. lever lock still on locked position though. Any one know to fix this?

[@OlivierGirard]

That's a bit the drawback of the mechanisms working with a brake (vs click mechanisms): you can choose the angle that you want, but depending on how they are used they may break after some years. It's kind of like a clutch. Have you tried to contact your local dealer?

[@edwardhuang2475]

Hi, Olivier, what is the name of your chair in the video? Thanks

[@OlivierGirard]

Hey Edward, it's the Kinnarps Plus 8 :)

[@G91YS]

Bonjour Olivier, merci pour la vidéo! J'ai la possibilité de changer de chaise de bureau (Ikea pour le moment) par une ergonomique: soit une Kinnarps Plus 8, soit une Drisag Smart Netweave, soit une SEDUS SE:DO (PRO). Laquelle me conseillerais-tu? (1m80 - 90kg)

[@OlivierGirard]

Hello... j'ai honte de répondre si tard!! On est sur des chaises qui semblent être assez différentes en terme de budget. J'ai la Kinnarps Plus 8, et en toute honnêteté je ne la changerai pour aucune des 2 que tu mentionnes ;)

[@G91YS]

@@OlivierGirard Merci pour ton retour! Oui je l'ai commandée, avec le repose-tête et les accoudoirs modifiables. J'attends la livraison ;) Changera de ma chaise Ikea...

[@daz9677]

Finding Lumbar support difficult to get used to , is it just me or does it take time ??? Hi, I have watched your great videos and in hindsight should of watched them before buying a chair ! With Covid it is quite difficult to try before you buy . The main issue I have is I just cannot get the lumbar support anywhere near being comfortable. Too high and it pushes me forward and too low and its giving me a pain in the bottom of my back. I am sitting straight and slightly forward as you advise and followed the other tips apart from the chair arms. When you say the lumbar is just above the belt line do you expect to fell it pushing on the main end of the bone ? Mine is an ergo-tek fully loaded mesh chair so the lumbar support only goes up and down not in and out. From the videos I cannot quite tell the pressure of the lumbar onto the back. Is it a matter of you should feel the lumbar to make you recognize the need to sit upright. Or should you really feel your back pushing into the lumbar to almost be propping you up ? I know its difficult to describe just cant quite work out if I expect to feel the lumbar in my back or only slighly ? I am wondering if due to me not sitting correctly and slouching for a number of years, is it maybe just a matter of getting used to it, and it may hurt for a few days. Had it about a week so far ? Any help would be appreciated as cannot send it back, and never had an ergonomic chair before so have nothing to compare it to. Currently looking at your back pain videos !!

[@OlivierGirard]

Hey Daz! Thanks for the message! There's a lot of truth in what you write: - changing habits is a tough ride, with sometimes quite some discomfort because the body needs to get used to another posture - a lumbar support can be uncomfortable (especially on a mesh chair, it can cause pressure points if it's too hard; I have this with one of my chairs that has a mesh backrest + plastic lumbar support behind it, esp. when I wear a thick belt) - the lumbar support is not called as it should be: it's a pelvic support, actually! You really want it behind your belt (where it's actually the most bony, which is the very issue when using hard lumbar supports) My idea would be: try and put a thin cushion behind your back so as to soften the pressure of the lumbar support and see how it feels. Next to this, get up every 20 min and do my upper body reset (40 sec) to not let the muscle strain due to the discomfort settle in... Keep me posted!

[@daz9677]

@@OlivierGirard Thought I would give it a month before getting back to you. Hi, as you say its more a pelvic support, so I gave up positioning near the lumbar. I spent a couple of weeks playing about with positions and found the most comfortable postion was to have the back rest only a few clicks up. I also kind of pulled the chair towards me to sit in, rather than kind of pushing myself right to the back of the chair. I'd say after around 6 weeks it is a lot better and my back has adjusted a lot more to the better position. I can almost instantly notice if someone alters the chair by mistake. So I still have the chair and not all the money wasted. I have been doing some back exercises too, more preventative than to resolve pain now ! Thanks for your help

[@OlivierGirard]

@@daz9677 Hey Daz, that's super nice to read! I'm glad we could sort this out :)

[@maheshdusane6115]

Great! What is the chair that you are using?

[@OlivierGirard]

It's the Kinnarps Plus 8, Mahesh: www.kinnarps.com/products/seating/task-chairs/plus/. Armrests are what they call of type 4.

[@Terra101]

Should you relax your lower back and let it rest against the support of the chair or are you supposed to kinda support it by yourself? When i sit completely straight up the lower back support isn't really supporting but just lightly touching my lower back (or my pelvis rather). Is this how it should be or is it okay to completely relax your lower back and let the chair support it?

[@OlivierGirard]

Hi dear! This is a very very good question, really detailed. The lumbar support is supposed to hold your pelvis indeed, not your lower back (check out this other video on that topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4mwfXuohNiNqM0). In an ideal world, the point of the lumbar support is to allow you to completely relax your lower back muscles, without your skeleton moving from the neutral posture (on the sitting bones). However, many lumbar supports aren't super well adjustable, some seat pans are a bit slippery, etc. So in practice, it's not rare when you have a mini-activation of the lower back muscles... but it should be as small as possible!

[@daz9677]

I know exactly what you mean here !! Will also watch the video.

[@bikerboy3k]

my tailbone hurts like crazy. I put the lumbar support higher and slid my ass back more and for 5 minutes was ok but then the pain started again.

[@bl8265]

Great video !!! Do you think mesh chair backrest is OK? Nowadays more and more seats are made of mesh.

[@OlivierGirard]

Thank you! Your other comment disappeared so I'll answer to both here: - you told me that you have pain in your lower back since you have your new chair: it can indeed be that you need to get used to it, but it can also be that it isn't adjusted properly (e.g., lumbar support too high), or that it is wrongly designed (I have seen chairs that create pressure points in the lower back: that's the reason why I always advice to test before buying, i.e. to never buy online) - mesh chairs are good and bad (kzbin.info/www/bejne/fne0Yn-QotWZi68). The mesh is supposed to "auto-adjust" to your morphology, which is great in view of the fact that most office workers don't adjust their furniture (especially when you have a non-assigned workplace). They are also more breathable, which is good in some warm countries. However, the support given by the mesh tends to be weaker than the support given by a full foam backrest, especially if the mesh does not have the reinforcing support (foam or plastic) behind. Last point: the mesh is more likely to create pressure points against the hard parts of the backrest or the reinforcing bar itself (also depends on your pants and belt)... To cut a long story short: I would never buy a mesh backrest that creates pressure point, I would tend to buy a comfortable mesh backrest with a reinforcing support if the chair is used by many people, and personally I have more comfort with a full foam backrest (but that's a personal preference). Does it make sense, dear?

[@bl8265]

@@OlivierGirard Thank you for you long advise. I have a mesh chair with adjustable lumbar support - reinforcing plastic support (height + depth): www.centrumkrzesel.pl/images/product/f0e52e13902be56eff86170c36f0cd46adeeba98.jpeg I put reinforcing plastic support right above my belt. The physical therapist diagnosed me Anterior Pelvic Tilt, so now I try to reduce the depth of lumbar support. Please look at the research below: musculoskeletalkey.com/lumbar-syndrome/ They show that while sitting slouched we exert less pressure on your lumbar region than sitting upright (of course, then we destroy the upper spine), but can it be that I have been less straining my lumbar spine while sitting slouched? ...and since I sit upright, the pain is caused by more pressure on the lumbar region?

[@OlivierGirard]

That's a super good question, thank you very much! It's so relevant that I have made a full video to answer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJKXhHmpbZqnpdE

[@bl8265]

Thank you very much! It is always a compromise, either a more stressed lumbar section or a more stressed upper spine.

[@cins3789]

What kind of chair is shown in the video (brand, model etc.)? Good video!

[@STATHomeCareTraining]

I have watched several of your videos but I don't see a link to the chair you are recommending. Am I missing it somewhere?

[@OlivierGirard]

Hey dear... sorry for a super late reply! My chair is a Kinnarps Plus 8, but I know it isn't available everywhere... check out this video to see the criteria that I use to evaluate a chair: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fne0Yn-QotWZi68. BTW, a review of several Steelcase chairs is coming up soon ;) ....

[@Chris-cf2kp]

And now I have an ultimate wedgy on the family jewels but my back sure is supported!

[@OlivierGirard]

😂

[@jordanbristow4120]

got a link to this specific chair?

[@OlivierGirard]

Kinnarps Plus 8 | Plus 6 | Office Chair Review kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2PaqJ9sj9Sbgsk 😄

[@Unknown-qr7mj]

What about forward tilt mechanism ?

[@OlivierGirard]

they create a risk of excessive lumbar lordosis, as I explain here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX6apWZmesZ_mLc

[@samirgunic]

What do you use for lubrication of this chair?

[@OlivierGirard]

I don't lubricate it...

[@samirgunic]

Neither do I. But if you had to do it, what would you use? I asked Kinnarps this same question, but I received mixed answers. I asked them more than once and talked to more than one person. I could tell they were pretty much clueless, just like me. It's like they never heard of maintenance and never got this type of question before. I have a Synchrone chair like in your video. Specifically, it says "8784" on my order confirmation, so it may be the "Plus 8" variant. But it says "8000 Synchrone" on a label under the seat, so I'm not sure. My chair will be 5 years old this November, so I still have warranty on it. I'm the first owner, and they had one custom tailored for me. I ordered a complete set of office furniture from Kinnarps actually. I love the look and quality of their products. The problem I have with the chair is that it started to make creaking sounds a couple of months ago when I lean back against the backrest, or if I lean forward and off to the side to get into my "thinking Tesla" pose where I place my elbow on the arm rest and rest my head on the arm (I forgot the English word for this posture). Probably not a good posture to have, ergonomically speaking! But the creaking of the chair makes sure I get out of that position quickly. It can be very annoying at times, unless I'm deeply focused on something. The first person I talked to at Kinnarps offered to book a service. Since it's under warranty, it would be free of charge. It seemed unnecessary to take up their time just to have someone come over and lubricate a chair. I am no stranger to getting my hands dirty and doing tasks like this myself. But since I have never done this before... since I don't know how to take it apart... since it doesn't come with a manual, and since I don't know what kind of lubricant to use, I agreed and took their offer. One week passed and no one showed up and no one called me. So I called them again and talked to another person. He could not find any service order. So no wonder no one came or called me. But he was helpful in providing me with servicing instructions with pictures. It seems to be an extract from their internal knowledge base system for their service technicians, which I think is a great example of customer service and it weighs up the mistake of his colleague. It was surprisingly easy to take the seat off! There's a little push pin you need to press as you hold down the seat adjustment lever at the front, and you just pull the seat forward to take it off. It's super easy, and no special tools are required. As for lubrication, he wasn't sure what to use. But he got back to me by e-mail later on and told me to use a "creeping lubricant without oil" (literal translation from Swedish) after talking to a service technician. So I did a little bit of my own research into this, and I was overwhelmed by the number of "how to fix your squeaking gaming chair" type of videos on KZbin. First of all, I was surprised that there are so many creaking, squeaking and clicking gaming chairs. Nearly in all videos, the recommendation was to use "lithium grease" (or "white lithium grease", or "white grease"). I think lithium grease is the wrong lubricant, even if used on the lift piston. Of all the videos I saw, there was only one guy, I think, that used a silicone based lubricant for his gaming chair. Oil based products are bad lubricants for the long term. Grease is a much better choice, but it's very messy for a fine piece of equipment like an office chair. Oils are also not friendly for plastic details. Silicone is a better choice for this. But it may not have all the properties. I was told to use "creeping lubricant without oil". Without oil would mean silicone, or maybe PTFE (the stuff that Teflon in your cookware is made of). But as far as I can tell, only oil products will give you the "creeps" (pun intended), which I take to mean "capillary action". It's like love and marriage, you can't have one without the other. To lubricate or not to lubricate... that is the question... and what to lubricate with, for a lasting effect... preferably something that's not messy, and that doesn't run or drip down to the floor and all over the chair. At least my chair lasted 5 years without lubrication. Some of the people with gaming chairs that I saw on KZbin, complained that they had to lubricate their chair after as little as 1 to 6 month after purchase to make the squeaks and creaks go away. This was another thing that surprised me. Those are not exactly cheap chairs.

[@chamok_sazid_24_]

Sir, What's the Chair Model??

[@OlivierGirard]

It’s a kinnarps plus 8: www.kinnarps.com/products/seating/task-chairs/plus/

[@ramonaott9573]

Can someone tell me what chair is that one? :]

[@OlivierGirard]

Kinnarps Plus 8, dear 😊

[@ncorry8491]

I recently got a kimnarps 8000 with a headrest. I study frequently watching videos , I tried to watch in a lounging proposition , I have a standing desk with a monitor on an adjustable arm. However I am noticed neck discomfort in cervical and upper thoracic regions ( particularly at transition fro. Thoracic to cervical). In the past we I didn't really use a headrest. Would I be better not using the we headrest?

[@ncorry8491]

Also should I keep the headrest at base of skull as opposed to in cervical spine?

[@evancardy1453]

I’m curious why so many Practitioners would use the 90,90,90 rule I understand what is being looked at the bones. Instead your average person thinks it is 90 in the inner angle of the joint which is flexion and will create muscular tension. Why do we keep hearing the 90 degrees? By the way I like the rest of what you covered especially your point about movement and stability. That’s why I don’t like mess seats for longer periods of seated postures as well it’s an unstable foundation for your spine.

[@OlivierGirard]

You know, many people just repeat everything that everybody else says, without thinking much about it… this is how dogmas appear and stay forever. In the field of posture, it’s all the time…

[@rockarollawmn]

What is the exact make & model of the chair that he is sitting in?

[@OlivierGirard]

it's the kinnarps plus 8: www.kinnarps.com/products/seating/task-chairs/plus/

[@solbadly4512]

Whats the name of that chair? Were could I get one similar?

[@OlivierGirard]

Your answers are here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2PaqJ9sj9Sbgsk 😄

[@ipapaste]

Where can I buy this chair online in europe ? God is this such an amazing chair !

[@OlivierGirard]

as far as I know, Kinnarps does not sell online... but you can find their used chairs on the net

[@catdog7497]

can you link the chair you have??

[@OlivierGirard]

It’s a kinnarps plus 8: www.kinnarps.com/products/seating/task-chairs/plus/ 😀

[@25jpg]

Tip: use a yoga step as a footrest. Flat, large area, and cheap.

[@gavink4476]

I was advised that I should have a desk surface height of about 73cm and that my elbow height should be the same height as the table and that my elbows should be aligned to be directly under my shoulders.What do you think about the advice I was given? Could I avoid getting a footrest with a 73cm desk height and armrests at the same height? Thanks in advance.

[@alexworm1707]

If youre tall af, yeah, if you have 1,70cm or less, no way in hell lmao.

[@AnthonyTNF]

Where can I find a good chair like that?

[@OlivierGirard]

This one is the Kinnarps Plus 8... but where you can find what is very country-dependent. Generally speaking, don't go to the cheap shops (Ikea etc) but to professional showrooms

[@informedchoice2249]

Again, no link to the chair or similar options... merci though, merci beacoup :)

[@OlivierGirard]

thanks for the feedback... I added a card with a link to the review of this chair: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2PaqJ9sj9Sbgsk :)

[@369maar]

what chair are you using in this video?

[@OlivierGirard]

It’s a Kinnarps Plus 8

[@369maar]

@@OlivierGirard jezus, that's a costly chair :(

[@OlivierGirard]

@@369maar True... it's around $1000 if you get it new. That's quite some cash. The other way to look at it is that if you keep it for 10 years (conservative hypothesis), it's just $8 a month... a broken back is much more costly than that. So it's true that's it's a high 1-time cost, but it's also a great investment...

[@julieannenoel5875]

Is there a video for office chairs from the 1990s?

[@OlivierGirard]

Well... not really. But the functions are usually the same, except that there are less of them

[@sulkoma]

i wish chairs were made for tall people :\ just like everything in this small world

[@OlivierGirard]

Good chair manufacturers provide different gas springs. If you buy a Kinnarps chair, the option is called KGAS. Other brands (e.g. HAG) also offer this type of options...

[@World.21]

don't forget to adjust the chair in the middle of nowhere as he said

[@miravlix]

Just weird, you talk about a fist between the chair and the leg under the knee, but you only have a thin finger width. You give advice then do it wrong?

[@OlivierGirard]

A fist is a simple common way to say: enough space so that you don't feel pressure. Any space will do...

[@jetmartin9501]

While many of the principals stated in this video are correct, the video is fundamentally flawed...why? because it doesn't account for the other critical component in the solution...your desk. To highlight this point your chair height should be positioned first to ensure that your arm position is ergonomically correct (90 degree angle) relative your desk height and then you make corrections from there as needed. For example, after ensuring that the arms are in a ergonomically correct position relative your desk surface if you find that your feet are not able to reach the floor and remain flat then you can get foot rest to address that issue. You don't set the chair height without considering the desk. ...you have to look at ergonomics holistically not in isolation.

[@OlivierGirard]

The answer is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJDZfqqFmZ5qkLM. A true ergonomist adjusts the chair to your body, then the desk height to you sitting. If you don’t have an adjustable desk, you loop back to chair height and consider a footrest. That’s what a real pro does…

[@jetmartin9501]

@@OlivierGirard Glad you agree with me that the desk is an important part of an ergonomic solution. Your video only talks about the chair. You might want to consider updating your video if you want to be considered a "Pro".

[@OlivierGirard]

@@jetmartin9501 You made me watch the video again... it actually does talk about the desk from 8:33 onwards. But to clarify even further, I adjusted the description and linked at the end the video on desk adjustment.

[@1456Sassy]

So I need to buy a more expensive chair that has an adjustable back, the seat the slides back and forth, along with the adjustable height. Oh wait, I don't have 2 grand to spend on one. I bought one that was nearly $200 a few years ago and has been far from comfortable. I've never been able to sit back with my back straight. Guess I need to get a bank loan or mortgage my property to buy one of those. 🤔🙄