The standard American desk chair is way too big for most of us. I’m 6’3″ and 200 pounds. These chairs are even way too big for me.
Working at a computer 8 hours a day is hard enough on our bodies. But armrests caused me unnecessary repetitive strain injuries in my shoulders, chest, and neck.
This article will talk about the 3 main reasons that office chair armrests are problematic for good computer posture. It will talk about multiple posture issues armrests create if they cannot be adjusted to the correct position.
This article is not professional medical advice. It’s based off my personal experience and opinions. For years, my poor computer posture caused muscle tension, inflammation, and chronic pain. Bad posture also decreased my mental clarity, energy level, and work productivity.
All the desk worker health tips I write about are directly related to improving posture at a computer. We are our own primary caretakers. Do your research. Make good decisions. And be the best advocate possible for your own healthcare.
Why are office chair armrests bad for computer posture?
I can rarely get the armrest height correct.
Even if I do get the height correct, the armrests usually hit my desk when I slide my chair closer to my keyboard and mouse.
This won’t allow me to get my chair close enough to the desk. So it would force me to overextend my arms and upper back to reach forward (to use my keyboard and mouse).
Next thing you know, it’s also causing me to slouch forward.
It’s one thing not being able to rest my elbows on the armrests. But it’s another thing when the armrests are causing (multiple) other posture problems.
The width of the armrests is always too wide.
This is the case every single time. I’ve never sat in a desk chair when the armrests weren’t too wide. There’s basically one size of office chair. And that size is HUGE.
Most of the time, the armrests don’t adjust side-to-side at all. They just go up and down.
It would be ideal if desk chairs were custom made. Specifically measured to fit each office worker. Each person has different variables. Height, weight, arm length, and leg length. But the most important variable is torso width. Meaning, how far apart are a user’s elbows when their shoulders are in a neutral position?
Let’s say I do extend my elbows out wide and land them on armrests that are too wide. I’d have to put my arms and shoulders in a very unnatural position.
Then I hold that compromised position for 8 hours a day. This would cause painful repetitive strain injuries in my shoulders, chest, and neck.
Non-adjusting office chair armrests.
These never work for me either. Because they’re usually too low and always way too wide.
I’d end up moving my elbows (down and outward) to meet the armrests. This would also cause repetitive strain in my shoulders, chest, and neck.
We wouldn’t wear shoes that are 6 sizes too big for us.
So why are we sitting in chairs that are 6 sizes too big for us?
Especially considering these chairs are causing chronic pain and excessive muscle tension.
If you learned something from this article about armrest positioning problems, check out my article titled How to Use Office Chair Armrests.
It talks about ways to position armrests correctly. It also talks about how to support your arms when the armrests are too low and too wide.
THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN COMPUTER POSTURE.
If you’ve read this far, congratulations! You’re taking valuable steps to reduce computer-related injuries by improving your posture. That’s something to be very proud of!
If you liked this article on why office chair armrests are bad for computer posture, check out my free ebook titled 3 Ways to Improve Computer Posture Immediately!
>>> Click here to download your free copy
This ebook is a great supplement to the article you just read. In this ebook, you’ll learn 3 of the most painful, poor computer posture mistakes. Then, you’ll learn how to fix those mistakes immediately with 3 simple changes to your ergonomic computer desk setup.
Go to SittingPosture.com/ebook to learn more.
Take care,
Todd Bowen
