Ergonomic Chairs for Petite People and Smaller Frames

Very few companies make specialised products for the more petite among us. Finding the right office chair can be a real challenge for petite individuals. Most office chairs are designed to fit the ‘average’ body size. But what is the ‘average’ body size? We are all different shapes and sizes, we buy everything according to our size – clothes, accessories…so why not our chairs? 

A standard office chair that doesn’t provide the necessary support for a petite person can lead to discomfort and poor posture. An average office worker spends 6.5 hours daily sitting in their chair. If you’re sitting on a chair that’s too big, you’re probably experiencing back pain, lack of circulation in your legs and possibly pain in other areas too.

An improperly sized chair can present genuine health risks so here are some important features to consider when buying a chair for petite users:

1. Seat Depth

This is probably the most important factor to consider when choosing an office chair if you are a petite user as it ensures better contact with the backrest, comfort and thigh support. A seat that is too deep will cause you to sit towards the front of the chair and use the chair as a stool, resulting in little or no back support, slouching and fatigue.

If the seat is too deep, it can cause pressure behind the knees, compression, restrict blood circulation, and therefore create circulatory problems and discomfort. Conversely, a seat that is too shallow may not support the thighs properly, increasing pressure on the buttocks. 

A petite person will need a smaller seat depth, with a seat slide to adjust the fit. A properly fitting seat should have two to three fingers’ width of space between the front of the seat and the back of the knee. 

A seat slide, an adjustable seat depth, allows the seat to be fine-tuned to fit petite individuals, promoting better posture, reducing the risk of discomfort and pain in creating an optimal seating position.

The seat should also have a waterfall front edge or a ‘flex front’ helps in reducing pressure on the legs, thighs and behind the knees, enhancing comfort and circulation.

2. Back size and Back support

A height adjustable backrest allows the back height and lumbar support to be adjusted to fit your frame providing full back ergonomic support to users of all heights.

Adjusting the back height allows the lumbar to connect in the right place, and a headrest, if used, to be adjusted to the correct height. 

Backrest width is also an important factor to consider. Too wide and you will not be correctly supported and risk leaning or side slouching. A backrest that is narrower at the top is ideal for slimmer users as it  encourages upright sitting with shoulders back and chest open. 

A ‘tension control’ mechanism which will allow you to set the tension or pressure of the movement of the chair back and seat to your own body weight is a perfect addition, particularly for slight individuals. The backrest should move with you as one for continuous postural support.

3. Armrests

Armrests significantly enhance comfort and support, preventing strain on the shoulders and neck. If you are small in height or slim in build and armrests are too high, low or widely spaced they can fail to provide enough support and cause discomfort and poor posture. Adjustable armrests allow you to customise the height, width, depth and in some cases angle to fit your body dimensions. The height should be positioned to support the elbows and forearms in line with your shoulders. This will help in reducing slouching or shoulder hunching. Armrests that pivot allow you to change the angle to support your arms naturally in a relaxed position.

Arms that are too far apart do not allow your elbows to rest in a natural position underneath your shoulders, close to your body, and can cause tension in the shoulders. Proper support of the arms is part of the solution to prevent hand, arm, thoracic, shoulder and neck problems. Improperly placed chairs arms can ruin an otherwise great chair. 

4. Seat Height

The chair needs a height adjustment to allow the seat to be set at the correct height. Sitting too high or too low can lead to slouching or hunching, which can cause long-term health issues. When seated, forearms should be parallel to the desk, eyes aligned with the top of the computer monitor (to reduces neck strain), feet flat on the floor (or a footrest) to ensure comfort and correct posture, promoting better circulation and reducing various issues such as swelling of feet, leg pain, stress on the hips, restricted blood flow and circulation in the thighs.

A seat that is too high can leave feet dangling causing strain on the lower back and legs.

The seat height range of a chair allows you to accurately measure exactly the range you need to adjust your chair to your body.

5. Lumbar Support

Vital when choosing an office chair to maintain the spine’s natural curve by increasing contact area with the backrest for comfort and ergonomic alignment. For users with shorter torsos, this support will help to prevent slouching or overarching when seated.

Inflatable lumbar support allow you to customise the level of support and pressure, adding 

or releasing air to achieve the desired firmness reducing the risk of injury or back pain, and promoting long-term spinal health. Upholstered back chairs will have inflatable lumbar cushions within the foam and padding of the backrest, height adjustable with the backrest. Mesh back chairs often have height adjustable lumbar panels.

Four chairs we produce specifically for petite people are: 

• Elite Petite
• Custom Petite
• Positive Plus Petite 
• Express Petite

All of these chairs are preventative and corrective. They are available with customisation options to help with postural pain, such as coccyx cut out, inflatable lumbar support, inflatable thoracic support, air flow seat for sciatic pain, and many more.