I recall someone who had to see a physiotherapist several times a week because of back and hip problems. When I saw him sitting at his desk, his unnatural sitting posture caught my eye.
His computer was placed on the floor too close to his thigh. As a result, he had to stow his legs somewhere else.
So, he sat the whole day in a very unnatural position, his knees twisted off beside the computer. And after that day! I didn’t give up until he had cleared the space under his desk. Soon after, I noticed that he no longer had any back or hip problems at all. The other appointments with the physiotherapist were also canceled.
It is difficult to imagine a better example to explain the conclusion clearly and unambiguously: There must be enough legroom under the desk for a comfortable sitting position!
Not only the table height (approx. 74 cm, depending on body height) but also the legroom depth (at least 80 cm) is important. Keep the space under the worktop completely free from all small furniture, electronic devices, boxes, or wastebaskets. Nothing should be allowed to take your legs away from the space they need: a crooked, twisted, and unnatural position is one of the unhealthiest activities you can do to yourself!
The same applies to all kinds of hidden items under the tabletop, such as crossbars, drawers, and anything else that takes up space from your legs. Because of hanging cables, employees frequently adopt different positions under the table, which have an unfavorable effect on the overall sitting posture! Therefore, make sure that all cables are connected to your desk in an orderly fashion so that you will not accidentally come in contact with your legs.
The biggest enemy and troublemaker under your desk is the tangled mess of cables! So, make sure you take the (small) time to clear all the cables out of the way with cable ties or a cable channel and bundle and route them on one side of your desk.
The entire cable layer should not reach the floor until it reaches one side of the desk!
Here are some simple and ingenious solutions.
If the topic of ergonomics in the office or home office appeals to you and you are interested in it more deeply, I can recommend my book “Wellness in the Office”. Combined with humorous drawings, I pass on 50+1 tips to make your office a little paradise.
