What Is The Knob Under An Office Chair For? Here's How To Use It

While you may spend a good portion of your day sitting in an office chair, have you ever actually examined it? If you take a good look at the underside of the chair, you'll likely notice both a lever for adjusting the height and a mysterious knob. This knob is actually a surprisingly useful tool for making your chair as comfortable as possible. This knob is called the "tension control knob," and it lets you adjust how easily your chair tilts back. This ability to change how much resistance you feel while leaning back makes customizing your office chair to your needs a breeze. Most gaming chairs have the same type of a knob for controlling tilt resistance. 

While taking the time to adjust your office chair may seem like a waste, it's far from it. Having an ergonomic chair in your home office doesn't just boost your work performance, it also prevents injuries and posture problems. In addition to adjusting the tension knob for your chair, it's also important to set the chair's seat height properly.

To adjust tension, you must first find where the control knob is located. Most times, it's right in front of the stem; however, some chairs may have this knob located to the side. Either way, it should be fairly easy to spot. Once you've found it, turn the knob clockwise to increase resistance and counterclockwise to reduce it. While everyone's tension preference is different, it's best to set your chair so you feel some support and resistance from the back while still being able to lean backwards. Generally speaking, the lower your body weight, the less tension you will require to achieve this perfect amount of support. 

If you want to adjust the seat height, you can do so using the lever or the handle on the underside of the chair. Ideally, the seat should be high enough that you can put both your feet flat on the ground, with your knees bent at about 90 degrees. Some chairs also have adjustable arm rests and back height for additional customization. 

If you aren't able to achieve the right seat height or tilt tension with your current chair, then it might not be the best chair for your home office. Finding a chair that can be adjusted to work for your posture and body type is worth the time and effort. In fact, it's likely the most important part of any home office makeover.