Learning to Live with Flexx . . .
Flexx is not your ordinary, dumb footrest that lies dormant under your desk and just gets in the way! Flexx is for thinking sitting. Flexx is interactive and wants to be involved with you as you work. So take a minute or two now to acquaint yourself with your new friend, Flexx.
A couple of important things . . .
1. Flexx is a series of springs. Look at the animations of the various leg exercises below – you will see how Flexx moves – some of the movement is at the bends and some is in the straight sections between the bends. So Flexx does not just rotate around a single point – it has a flowing action.
2. At rest, Flexx is higher than most ordinary footrests. Some people, on their first acquaintance with Flexx think that it looks too high. At Rest, Flexx is higher than most conventional footrests - that is because it is a spring. Flexx reduces in height as soon as a person puts their legs on it. As leg weight varies from person to person, there will be differing amounts of compression of Flexx . . . Lighter legs will compress it less; heavier legs will compress it more.
Where you place your Flexx, and where you put your feet will determine the height and angle of your feet and legs.
If you place your feet closer to the front of Flexx, the front will be pushed lower and the angle of the footpad will be greater. If you put your feet further back on Flexx, the front will be higher and the footpad will be flatter.
The same results will be obtained by moving Flexx towards or away from your chair. The closer Flexx is to the chair, the more likely it will sit higher and flatter. The further Flexx is from your chair, the greater the angle of the footpad, and the lower the front edge.
The unique spring action of Flexx automatically compensates for height and distance, so wherever you put your Flexx, you will find it creates a comfortable angle for your feet, ankles, and legs.
Because everybody is different, experimentation is the best way to find out how to use Flexx to your best advantage.
So, How Should You Set Up Your Flexx ?
If you are longer in the leg . . .
Start off with Flexx in about the same position you would place an ordinary footrest.
If you find your knees are too close to the underside of the desktop, just move Flexx a little further away. This will cause the front edge of Flexx to drop slightly which in turn makes your legs slope downwards, thus reducing the height of your knees.
If you are shorter in the leg . . .
You will probably want Flexx closer to your chair so you can obtain the benefit of Flexx being higher. You can still move it around to suit yourself, but make sure you have good support under your feet, and check that your thighs are not pressing into the seat cushion.
Check the animation below to see how easy Flexx is to move while you are still fully seated – you do not have to reach under the desk to move your Flexx
You may need to adjust the height of your chair seat . . .
It is common for people to compromise on the height setting of their chair, either to suit the height of their desk, or to suit their leg length (so they can rest their feet on the floor). If you have never used a footrest before, or have only ever had a low footrest, you might find it advisable to check whether the present setting of your chair height will be suitable for use with Flexx. In many cases, slightly raising your chair will improve the effective use of Flexx.
Do not use Flexx on a plastic chair mat . . .
Because Flexx causes you to sit back into the backrest of the chair, you might find that your chair tends to roll away from the desk. If you have a plastic chair mat under your chair, you should remove it now as it will prevent you from making good use of your Flexx. If your chair is on a hard surface (vinyl, very flat carpet, etc) you should consider asking to have the castors replaced with glides.
Do not wear high heeled shoes . . .
Flexx has been designed for stockinged feet or flat shoes. You may find that high heeled shoes produce an unnatural positioning of your ankles and quickly becomes uncomfortable. Flexx also uses a soft but durable surface to relax your feet. Sharp "stiletto" type heels may damage this surface.
It is important that your chair does NOT roll away from the desk while you are using Flexx, otherwise you might not gain the postural benefits that Flexx offers.
Now that you know how to use your Flexx, the rest is up to you. Flexx offers you substantial benefits in seated comfort at work. Don’t just leave your Flexx under the desk, USE IT and enjoy it!