[MBannon]

So I'm sitting at my desk at work today, leaning back in my chair like always (I'm an incurable lean-backer, DW hates it) when I notice that my left knee is starting to ache. Again. Sh!t. WTF? It felt fine the past few days.<br><br>
Then I notice it aches <i>when</i> I lean back in my chair. It's the type that the entire seat pivots, not just the back. So when I lean back, my feet kinda dangle a bit. Which apparently puts enough weight on my delicate knee, in just such a way, to make it quite unhappy.<br><br>
Could my freakin' CHAIR have been delaying the healing process all gawdamn winter?? On the one hand, I hope I haven't been that stupid, but on the other I pray the solution could be so simple. I locked out the spring, so we'll see what happens tomorrow.<br><br>
A couple years ago, my old chair leaned ever-so-slightly to the left, no matter which way you spun it. Took me the loooongest time to figure out why my back was always so sore. Maybe I should start sitting on a couple cinder blocks and a chunk of 2x6. Right after someone uses the 2x6 to give me a good hard smack upside the head. What a moe-ron.

 

[jkaiser20]

A mere four days after having my ACL redone I had an important supplier visit. We had the fancy conference room reserved, with all the nice super chairs. I was in absolute agony for the entire day because of exactly what you describe. Man it iwas rough. Pressure right in the wrong spot to put a weird load on the knee. chairs are dangerous.<br><br>
Oh, WHAP!

 

[Cashmason]

Swiss ball as office chair for you.

 

[jkaiser20]

<img alt="" src="http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/293/smackbottomcq3.gif" style="border:0px solid;">

 

[Tithers]

Bannon=I'll say if again...GO TO THE DOCTOR! <img alt="icon_salut.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_salut.gif">

 

[neil donnelly]

In a lot of ways it will be good if it is the chair - easy to fix the problem<br><br>
I will send over a plank of wood for you to slap yourself with<br><br><img alt="" src="http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:91UsZlnGshwx6M:http://www.eyesontutorials.com/images/Drawing/Sigma/tut17_WoodenPlank/12.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">

 

[pcsronbo]

that's good news!!!<br>
<smack>

 

[SpartyGirl]

Makes perfect sense to me-the way my office computer is set up my right arm throws my upper back off. I just haven't figured out how to reconfigure the setup yet, but I'm working on it.<br><br>
<smack> for both of us!

 

[em73]

knowing is half the battle, right? hope that your simple fix helps you heal faster.<br><br>
I have a nasty habit of sitting with my left leg pulled under my office chair and hooked over the base.... I only notice it's there when it starts hurting.<br><br>
I wonder what our facilities guys would say if I asked for a swiss ball?

 

[wyrillco]

NO!!<br><br>
Our worker's comp people freak when they see these. People fall off of them. They are for exercise, so they recommend sitting on them for 30 minutes a day.<br><br>
What you need is either a lower chair, or a foot rest for your feet, so that you don't have pressure on that point behind your knees. You should be able to fit 2-3 finger widths between the back of your knees and the front of your chair, and your feet should be flat on the ground (or a footrest).<br><br>
We've just done ergo evals at work, can you tell?

 

[Thor]

Damn. But hey, maybe this is progress. Dude, I totally feel your pain. This knee thing just sucks.

 

[BethR]

I hope it's that easy - and I'll bet you are right. I'm on the short side of normal, so I always have dangling feet at meetings. I have a bad habit of tucking my right foot up under my left leg on the chair to relieve back pain from dangling legs. I think it cuts off good blood flow to my right leg and my knee is probably paying the price. Habits are hard to break! Get a stool - DW and your knees will thank you!

 

[Abb94]

Knees just suck in general. At least mine do!<br>
My back and shoulders are sore FROM ICING MY KNEE because I had to get in such a weird position to ice at work. Oh WHAT??

 

[CCRaces]

Yep. I could believe that. My computer set up puts an unbeliveable amount of strain on my neck, which I already have to baby somewhat. I've tried moving things around, raising my monitor (on a couple of reams of paper) raising my chair, lowering my chair, Putting my monitor back the way it was...Nothing seems to help, and some things I tried only make it worse. sigh.

 

[hobey]

Office setups are tricky. I have to take an ergo assessment annually to make sure nothing changes.<br><br>
I agree with Tithers...but you're a grown-up and can make your own decisions. <img alt="razz.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/razz.gif"><br><br>
ETA: <SMACK>

 

[Silly Sally]

<WHACK!!><br><br>
I'm happy you recognized your problem ...<br><br>
Sally

 

[wyrillco]

Have you ever had someone come in and do an evaluation of your area? You company might do that...<br><br>
The other thing they say is that you need to leave something a new position for a couple weeks to get used to it, and you might not notice a change RIGHT when you change it.<br><br>
FYI:<br>
The top of your monitor should be about eye level.<br>
You should sit with your feet on the floor, or on a bench/footrest. They should be supported.<br>
Your chair should hit the backs of your legs with 2-3 finger widths between the back of your knees and the seat. Most chairs now have an adjustment to move the seat pan (the part you sit on) forward or back.<br>
Your chair should have some lumbar support, and it should hit you where your back naturally curves. Have someone else look at you, put your hands there, whatever it takes to make sure it's in the right spot. If not, move the back of your chair up. Again, most chairs now have this adjustment. If not, you can get cushions to put on your chair for that support.<br>
Your keyboard should be at a negative angle. When your hands are on it, your wrists should be flat, or bent slightly toward the floor. If they bend at all back up to you, make an adjustment. A lot of keyboards have little feet on the back of them, and if you flip this down, your keyboard will at least be flat. I (and our ergo evaluators) recommend the front actually being higher than the back a little, which is easy to do by propping it up or using a keyboard try.<br>
You should be able to sit at your desk, feet on the floor, with your arms at your side, elbows bent ~90 degrees, or even a little bigger angle at your elbow. If you have to bend your arms more, you either need to lift your chair up, or lower your keyboard.

 

[CCRaces]

Thanks for the great information Courtney! I have kept the changes around for about a month at a time, but I'll definitely see what I can do about my keyboard. I don't think our office chairs have that lumbar support function. I have seen that with the manager's chairs--the people who actually get offices, but for those of us in the cube trenches, I think we are just relegated to moving the chair up and down. That's a good idea about a footrest too. I think maybe I'll try raising my chair a bit, but using a footrest. Thanks!

 

[Boyerdavea]

You all crack me up! LOL!<br><br>
<SMACK> and one for me, for all the stupid things I do an don't share <SMACK>

 

[MBannon]

My gosh, I spent less time with the bike fitter!!