Chiropractors Say This Is The *One* Tool You’re Missing To Help Your Back Pain

There’s almost nothing better than kicking back by the pool, laying out on a chair with your legs up.

And while it feels mentally relaxing to have your feet elevated, it turns out that there are major physical benefits for your body too—so it’s time you add that practice to other sedentary moments of your life. (Read: During the work day.)

Foot rests can be useful to provide support and comfort for the feet and lower limbs during prolonged sitting at a desk or workstation. “Sitting in any one position for a long period of time can wear on the body,” says chiropractor Alex Tauberg, DC, CSCS. “Staying stationary can cause muscles and joints to tighten up and become painful.”

Alternating sitting positions can help ease wear and tear on your body. And adding a foot rest can provide support, comfort, and reduce pressure on your lower limbs, he says. But the benefits don’t end there: They can also help prevent or reduce leg swelling because they improve circulation.

Check out some of the best under desk foot rests here:

Foot rests can also promote correct ergonomics and encourage proper sitting posture, says chiropractor Karen Erickson, DC, FACC. “Having your feet anchored on the floor or a footstool allows the weight to be appropriately distributed through the hips, pelvis, and spine,” she adds.

If you sit at a desk for a long period of time during the day, or you have peripheral venous disease, peripheral arterial disease, or minor circulation problems like cold feet, it’s a good idea to look into getting one, Dr. Tauberg says.

So, here are the 10 best under desk foot rests, with suggestions from chiropractors and rave reviews.

Meet the experts: Alex Tauberg, DC, CSCS, isa chiropractor and the owner of The Pittsburgh Chiropractor. Karen Erickson, DC, FACC, is a chiropractor at Erickson Healing Arts in New York City.