Muscatine, IA., Sept. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Executive Summary and Key Takeaways
- The News: For National Ergonomics Month 2026, leading office furnishings manufacturer Allsteel has shared an ergonomics deep-dive, including a step-by-step set-up guide, as well as debunking common ergonomic misconceptions and myths.
- Expert Source: Insights are led by Lauren Gant, PhD, CPE (Certified Professional Ergonomist), Allsteel Senior Workplace Advisory Manager
- Key Philosophy: True ergonomics prioritize dynamic movement, inclusive design, and Work Geometry™ - Allsteel's human-centric consideration for your posture, fit, and the tools you use to be productive and comfortable.
- Featured Product: Allsteel’s new award-winning task chair, Levra™ was engineered to meet the four-core ergonomic product design needs: fit, movement, comfort, and intuitiveness.
Muscatine, IA. September 21, 2026 — In honor of National Ergonomics Month in October 2026, leading office furnishings manufacturer Allsteel has released a step-by-step guide to improving your ergonomic set-up. The proper ergonomic set-up not only facilitates a comfortable workday but also helps preserve energy for life outside the office. With insights from Lauren Gant, PhD, CPE (Certified Professional Ergonomist), Allsteel Senior Workplace Advisory Manager, the eight-step, bottom-up desk audit helps individuals achieve a more personalized ergonomic set-up.
Why Are Ergonomics Important for Workplace Wellness? Ergonomic principles directly support human wellbeing and organizational health:
- Ergonomics is not about sitting rigidly and still. Dr. Gant emphasizes the importance of movement, noting, “The best posture is your next posture.” Monotonous or sedentary behaviors can become uncomfortable and may have health implications over an extended period of time. Dynamic movement, micro adjustments, and changing postures are all ways to combat static sitting.
- The impact of ergonomics extends beyond the workday. Dr. Gant explains, “The right ergonomic guidance can have meaningful impacts on how people not only spend their day and feel at work, but also on how they feel at home and spending time with their family or doing the activities that they love.”
- Ergonomics can also support inclusivity and a sense of belonging. Dr. Gant explores the inherently personal nature of ergonomics, noting, “When a workspace is designed to adapt to a person’s unique body, rather than forcing the person to adapt to the furniture, it sends a signal that the space is meant for them.”
- In today’s hybrid working world, ergonomic support can play a role in the overall workplace experience. As employees increasingly expect the office to actively support them and earn the commute, ergonomic comfort can affect not only workplace wellness and performance, but also organizational health.
Step-by-Step Ergonomics “How-To” Guide
- Seat Height: Adjust your chair height so your feet rest flat on the floor, your knees are bent at approximately 85° to 100°, and your hips are at or slightly above knee level, with your thighs flat or tilted slightly down.
- Seat Depth: Ensure a 2- to 3-inch gap remains between the front edge of the seat and the back of your knees. This maintains leg circulation and allows your spine to rest properly against the backrest.
- Lumbar and Recline Tension: Adjust your chair’s lumbar support to actively cradle the curve of your lower back. Set the recline tension to securely support your weight while allowing effortless movement when you shift positions.
- Armrests and the “Lap Test”: Fold your hands in your lap to find your natural shoulder drop. Adjust your armrest height and width to meet your forearms at that point, with your shoulders relaxed and your elbows near your torso.
- Worksurface Height: Once your chair is adjusted, pull it up to your desk or worksurface. If your chair is too tall for the worksurface, you may be unable to fit your knees comfortably under the desk. Elevate the desk height with desk raisers or consider using a height-adjustable table. If your chair is too low compared to your worksurface, you may experience awkward postures in the arms, shoulders, and neck. Lower the desk height to coordinate with the chair, consider a height-adjustable table, use a keyboard tray to lower the keyboard and mouse, or elevate the seat height to meet the desk and use a footrest to support the legs and feet.
- Keyboard and Input Alignment: Keep your keyboard flat and your mouse next to your keyboard. Maintain straight, neutral wrists. Avoid resting wrists on hard table edges, which can restrict blood flow.
- Monitor Placement: Position your monitor directly in front of you, approximately one arm’s length away, with the top edge of the screen at or slightly below eye level. A monitor arm may also help support proper neck and shoulder postures while viewing.
- The 20-20-20 Rule: The 20-20-20 rule helps prevent eye strain: every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
What People Get Wrong About Ergonomics – Many overlook or misunderstand key elements of ergonomics.
A few commonly misunderstood areas include:
Myth: There is one “perfect” posture.
Reality: Locking into a single position can cause fatigue or strain. Movement is an essential part of ergonomics.
Myth: Ergonomics stops at the desk.
Reality: Knowledge workers work not only at desks, but also across lounge and collaborative zones or focus rooms. Work Geometry must extend to every zone. For example, a sofa designed for work should have a shallower seat depth than a standard residential sofa to help reduce slumping when using a laptop.
Myth: Physical discomfort is purely mechanical.
Reality: Psychosocial factors, such as high stress, deadlines, or lack of social support, can manifest as physical tension.
Myth: Minimum ADA requirements make for inclusive design.
Reality: ADA represents the base requirements for accessibility and does not necessarily consider comfort or productivity. True inclusive design is aimed at accommodating different body sizes, ages, cognitive needs, expectations, and experiences.
How Can Office Furniture Meet Higher Ergonomic Standards?
Dr. Gant notes, “When we think about what it means for a product to be inherently ergonomic, we focus on four areas: fit, movement, comfort, and intuitiveness.” These core elements are deeply woven into Allsteel’s product offering, particularly in its newest task chair release, Levra™. Levra’s intuitive design focuses on being more human-centric than user-centric, with features such as a first-of-its-kind, patent-pending structural knit back and advanced weight-activated response.
About Allsteel
Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Muscatine, Iowa, Allsteel designs and manufactures workplace furnishings that elevate performance through thoughtful design. Its portfolio spans architectural systems, private office, seating, and collaborative solutions, enabling cohesive environments across the workplace. Through a co-solutioning approach with dealers and design professionals, Allsteel creates adaptable spaces that support focus, foster connection, and align with evolving workplace strategy while supporting each organization’s culture and priorities. Allsteel operates an Experience Center in Chicago, along with showrooms in Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Allsteel is part of HNI Corporation, a global family of brands serving commercial and residential markets. For additional information, visit or follow Allsteel on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.
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- Allsteel