We’ve all done it. We’re standing in line behind a shopping cart filled with groceries. To relieve the stress on our low back, we automatically elevate one foot onto the bottom rack of the cart. It is said that the introduction of the foot rail in saloons was a business decision. The more comfortable the patrons were, the more they would stay and drink.

A common accessory item seen in many offices today is the footrest. Often times, computer users think they need one because other people have one. A footrest is only appropriate when the range of adjustment of the chair, work surface, or both, does not permit the user’s feet to be supported on the floor. Chairs should allow the user to sit all the way back in the chair with the low back fully supported by a properly adjusted backrest with at least two inches of space between the back of the knees and the front edge of the seat pan. Proper foot support reduces pressure to the underside of the thighs. Dangling feet often results in the legs and feet falling asleep because of the pressure on the blood vessels and nerves behind the knees.

In standing workstations with minimum mobility, a foot support, whether it’s a rail or a standalone footrest—something that allows the employee to elevate a foot—is very important. Allowing the employee the opportunity to alternate elevating a foot rotates the pelvis backwards. This counteracts the arching of the low back (also called  lordosis) and allows half of the back muscles to relax. Constantly shifting weight increases blood flow, which lessens fatigue and facilitates recovery.

For sitting workstations, adjustability and size are important. Of course, providing an adjustable chair and/or workstation is preferred but can be costly. Because the workforce is so diverse in stature and build, first choose a chair that accommodates this diversity. Chairs can be purchased in the following height ranges:

• Standard range—16 to 21 inches
• High range—18 to 23 inches
• Low range—14½  to 19 inches

What type of footrest is best?

If a footrest is still indicated, it should be:

• Deep enough to support the whole foot and wide enough to accommodate movement within the workstation. A step aerobic platform is a good alternative.
• Height-adjustable if the chair only adjusts in the standard range of 16 to 21 inches.
• Angle adjustable up to a maximum of 30º of inclination to allow for the various styles of shoes worn—flat shoes to high heels.

All footrests should have a non-skid surface, be removable, allow for enough knee and leg clearance, and not interfere with mobility.

One final consideration. A footrest tends to limit mobility, especially if the work requires the employee to alternate between two workstations, such as an L-shaped or corner workstation. If this is the case, then two or more footrests may be needed.