A foot rest is used to rest one’s foot and provide comfort to
legs and the back. When sitting on a chair without a foot rest the
legs are without a support underneath, the pelvis is pushed forward
and downwards causing back pain. Blood circulation is also affected.
The nerves can also get pressed affecting the back of the knees. If
you have the footrest the legs will not be dangling, they will be on
a firm ground at the proper height, push the pelvis a little back
and allow the chair to give a support to the back correcting your
posture, thereby minimizing footrest back pain. It is more so
important for those who have long sitting office hours. This is
because sitting on a chair for a prolonged period is a static
position which causes stress on the back, neck, shoulders, arms and
legs. This exerts pressure on the back muscles and spine discs.
Slouchy position over a prolonged period in the office chair is a
big factor in causing back pain.
A tilted footrest at a proper angle and at the appropriate height
provides proper leg and knee position which is not only very
comfortable to a person not suffering from any back pain but is a
big comfort for those suffering from arthritis, gout, aching back,
etc. A foot rest with a wide platform provides the flexibility of
free movement of the feet and the legs which can be instrumental in
avoiding foot rest back pain. Improper footrest especially in the
work place can be a cause for damage to spinal discs and recurring
back pain. The foot rest should have non skidding surface because a
skidding surface will be more uncomfortable aggravating footrest
back pain even further. Various types of foot rest are available in
the market but the best footrest is the one which gives comfort from
back pain, increases blood circulation in the legs, and provides
maximum alignment of the body posture. You can even go in for an
adjustable footrest which can be used by people of different
heights. The foot rest also allows you to stretch your body and
provide you with much wanted relaxation. Some of the footrests are
with wooden roller balls which can massage your feet.