Do you love gaming? Do you own a gaming chair? Do you want to know how to sit in a gaming chair properly? Read on to learn more.
Did you know that low back pain costs the United Kingdom more than 100 million workdays each year? If you want to avoid being part of that statistic, you need to learn how to sit in a gaming chair.
Even if you don't game that much, every minute counts. And gaming chairs aren't the same as your typical office chair, so read on for some tips and tricks to make gaming more comfortable.
Understand the Setup
Before you can learn how to sit in a gaming chair, you need to understand your gaming setup. Consider what you have in your gaming room, from your desk to your monitors to other supplies.
Think about how much space you have for a chair so that you can get one that meets your needs. If you already have a good gaming chair, you'll also want to think about how close it sits to your desk.
All of this can have an effect how your posture when you sit in your chair. You should be able to get your chair close enough to your desk to reach your keyboard and mouse.
Look at how tall your desk is and consider if you can reach the computer. Determine if you can look at your monitors comfortably or if you need to adjust something.
Get a Gaming Chair
If you haven't already, you should get a gaming chair. You can use an office chair, but it's not the best option if you plan to spend multiple hours playing games on your computer.
A gaming chair has the right design for gamers, so it can help you sit properly and comfortably for long periods. Gaming chairs feature thicker armrests and more support for your back and the sides of your thighs.
They may be expensive, but they're well worth the cost. It's better to pay now to help get a good posture than to have to pay for treatment of a back problem that you develop while gaming.
How to Sit in a Gaming Chair
Once you have a chair and know what your setup is like, you can learn how to sit in a gaming chair. Some points are the same as sitting in an office chair or any other seat.
However, you should be more mindful of your gaming chair sitting posture. You may not get up as much when you're gaming, so you need to get the position right to help protect and support your muscles.
Back Position
When sitting in a gaming chair, make sure that your entire back is up against the backrest of the chair. The back of the seat is there to help support your back and offer a comfortable position.
Make sure the lumbar support and neck support are in the right position. Some chairs are adjustable so that you can move the supports around to meet your needs.
If you're shorter, you may need to move the neck support down. On the other hand, a taller person might need to raise the lumbar support to fit in the curve of their back.
Fortunately, the back of the chair can help support you so that you don't have to sit up straight on your own. That allows you to relax as you focus on your game.
Hip Position
As you rest your back against the chair, your hips should also fall into place near the bottom of your back. Try not to sit on the edge of the chair since that can cause more strain on your back.
Placing your hips at the back of the seat allows your back to form its natural curve. If you keep your back too straight, you can end up in more pain than you started.
When you first sit in the chair, scootch back as far as you can to make sure your hips are where they need to be. Then, you can adjust the rest of your body accordingly.
Knee Position
Next, you need to make sure your knees bend at a ninety-degree angle. If you're a bit taller than average, your knees may come up off the chair if your lower legs are too long.
On the other hand, if you're short, your legs may hang off the edge of the chair. Be sure you can adjust the height of your gaming chair so that your knees bend the right amount.
Your thighs should rest on the chair and be parallel to the ground. Meanwhile, your shins should line up parallel with the wall in front of you.
Feet Position
Your feet should sit flat on the ground, not hanging or curved or on their sides. The floor provides some extra support for your feet so that your gaming chair doesn't have to do everything.
As you rest your feet on the ground, your ankles should form a right angle just like your knees. If not all of your foot touches the ground, you'll need to adjust the chair height.
Similarly, you may notice that your knees come farther forward than your ankles. In that case, you should raise the seat until you can maintain a comfortable posture.
Foot Rest
If you adjust your gaming chair, you may find you can sit in it well. However, that might keep you from reaching your mouse and keyboard, so it's not the best position for gaming.
When you're shorter than average, you'll want to raise the chair to where you can reach your desk. Then, you can get a footrest to stick under your gaming desk so that you can keep your feet flat.
On the other hand, if you're taller, you won't need a foot rest. Instead, you may want to raise the height of your desk if it's adjustable, or you can get desk leg risers to make the desk taller.
If that makes the desk too tall, you can then get a footrest to make up the difference. That way, everything will be in the correct spot for you to play games.
Reclining Position
You may want to choose a gaming chair that will recline. This is a nice option if you like to be more comfortable or if you like to switch positions from sitting up straight.
Some good gaming chairs offer a nice, deep recline. If you want this, make sure the back of the chair offers enough support since you'll place more weight on it when you lean back.
Adjust the Chair
As mentioned, you'll want to make sure the chair is comfortable for you when gaming. You may luck out and find a chair that's comfortable and ready to go.
However, you might need to adjust the chair to find a better position. Of course, this may involve raising or lowering the chair to match the height of your desk.
You may also want to adjust the height of your armrests so that your arms can sit there without you having to use your shoulders too much.
If your chair reclines, you may also want to test out how to do that. You should be able to recline as you wish, but you may need to move a knob on some chairs.
Adjust Your Desk and Monitors
Next, you should also adjust your desk and your computer and monitors. You want to make sure you have plenty of room to slide in and out under the desk when in your chair.
The keyboard and mouse should be close enough for you to reach without extending your arms. Also, consider where you place your monitors and the angle you'll have to use to view them.
If your monitors are too high, you may bend your neck back, or you could bend your neck forward if the monitors are too low. You can buy extensions to raise the monitors.
That way, you can keep your neck in a comfortable, ergonomic position.
Use Dynamic Sitting
Dynamic sitting involves moving between a couple of different positions during your gaming sessions. For one, this can help you stay comfortable if one position starts to feel bad.
You don't have to move significantly, it could just be sitting up for a while before reclining. Dynamic sitting can keep you moving so that you have to engage your muscles a little bit.
If you game a lot, you may sit in one spot for that whole time. Doing that often can lead to problems, and the slightest movement every once in a while may do wonders for your posture.
How to Get Used to Sitting in a Gaming Chair
Even if you have the best gaming chair, it can take a while for it to get comfortable. Like any new seat, you have to get used to it before using it becomes second nature.
Here are some things you can try when you buy your next gaming chair.
Start Small
The first few times you sit in a gaming chair, sit in it for a short period. Instead of using it for a full day of gaming, sit in the chair for 30 minutes at a time, then sit in your current chair for 30 minutes.
Rotate between the seats throughout the day so that you can see how each feels. After a while, you can increase the ratio to 45 minutes in the gaming chair and 15 minutes out of it.
It can take a few gaming sessions, but you'll eventually be able to sit in the chair all day. You'll learn how it feels and how you need to position your body to stay comfortable.
Experiment
As you acclimate to the new chair, experiment with it. Test out different heights and tilt angles. Of course, you want to make sure the height and tilt work well with your desk and computer.
But you may learn that a slight adjustment improves the comfort of the chair. Then, you can adjust your desk accordingly, either by using desk lifts or by moving your mouse and keyboard around.
When you experiment, take note of what you change and how it makes you feel. The next time you start gaming, you'll have a better idea of how to set the chair to be comfortable.
Remove the Lumbar Supports
Many gaming chairs come with lumbar supports that you can remove or move around. Another good experiment involves moving those supports to find the best spot for them.
Lumbar supports can help keep your lower back feeling good, but some chairs may not put them in the right spot. If you're shorter or taller than most people, you may need to adjust them.
You might even want to take the supports off entirely if you can. Then, you'll see which setup works the best for you, and you can always add the supports back later.
Be sure to do this with the neck pillow as well, especially if it's a bit too high or low for your liking.
Use Your Gaming Chair for Work
Another excellent option is to use your gaming chair for more than just gaming. If you work from home or do other computer activities at home, start sitting in a gaming chair instead of an office chair.
You can get used to how it feels when you don't have to focus on beating a new level in your game. That may help you notice small things that make the chair less comfortable than it could be.
During work, you might also have small breaks where you can more easily adjust the chair. You don't always have that luxury when you're in the middle of a game.
How Will You Sit in a Gaming Chair?
Knowing how to sit in a gaming chair is essential for beginners and serious gamers. Even with the right chair, you need to understand how it works so that you can make the most of it.
Be sure to place your back, hips, knees, and feet in the right places. However, don't forget to adjust your chair and desk so that you can comfortably reach your mouse and view your screen.
Are you ready to buy a gaming chair you'll love to sit in? View our selection and purchase one today.