Best Foot Rests

A foot rest is a good idea for people whose job involves them sitting a good part of the day. It can help prevent deep vein thrombosis in the elderly—a dangerous condition where blood clots form in the calf and thigh muscles. This condition can lead to pain and swelling in the legs. Things like elevating the feet and wearing compression socks and stockings help improve blood flow from the legs, but a foot rest is also a convenient solution. Besides improving blood flow in the legs, it can also solve posture problems when sitting. Here is a guide to some of the best footrests on the market. 

• Comfort: These can come in several forms, to reduce strain on the legs when sitting for extended periods of time. It can be:

  • Portable platform or angled piece of furniture that you place next to your chair. There are also portable four-legged stools in various shapes (round, square, rectangular, or cube-shaped) that are upholstered with fabric or leather. These can be raised to the extent that a person's legs are elevated to the point that a person is sitting almost horizontally.

  • Chair foot ring—a circular ring of metal at the base of an office chair. The height of the ring can be adjusted, along with the height of your chair,

  • Built-in: There are foot rests that are built into a workbench,

• Ergonomic: There are ergonomic foot rests that are made to suit your physiology perfectly, both in terms of the contours of your feet, as well as your posture and height.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

• Especially sturdy: Customers are pleased with the longevity of the Fellowes Compact Foot Rocker (Model No. 80240). It's not uncommon for all its features to still be working after years of use.

• Relieves stress: For people who tend to be fidgety, a rocking foot rest can help reduce that pent-up energy. The very fact that your feet are being rocked takes away the urge to swing your legs or tap your fingers.

• Best solutions are the simplest ones: The memory foam foot rests are popular for a reason: They relieve tension, and don't require any complicated adjustments for foot height and angle. Some prefer this to a foot rest with a lot of setting and knobs.

• Surface area of the footstool: The surface of a foot rest must be able to fit both of your feet. It's suggested that the top have a surface of 12 inches by 16 inches.

• Adjustable height and angle: There are foot rests with adjustable heights. Some also allow different angles at which you can place your feet. The Standard Fellowes offers two fixed heights, whereas other foot rests, such as the Safco Task Master, allow you a range of heights. On the other hand, the Safco Products 92311 Remedease Foot Cushion and the InteVision Cushion are made from memory foam—it's not adjustable, but the foam fits the contours of your feet, for added comfort.

• Massaging platform: Some footrests have a textured surface that massages the soles of your feet.

• Weight allowance: You might have to worry about how much weight the foot rest can support. For example, the Econo High Portable foot rest is made from ABS plastic, and can support 100 pounds of weight. It also has wings that you can spread out, to allow more room for your legs. (It doesn't have any cushioning, however.)

• Heating and cooling: The Fellowes 8030901 footrest includes a fan and even a heat control, to either warm or cool your feet.

• Rocker: Their Compact Foot Rocker (80240) provides a rocking motion to improve circulation and reduce fatigue.

• Portable: In many foot rests, the word “portable” means that you can move it around your office. But the Econo High Portable foot rest takes that even further: it folds up so that you can put in it an attaché case or purse, and it weighs less than two pounds. If you're a frequent flyer, you can even take it with you in your carry-on luggage, and pull it out when you want to rest on your flight.

Safco Products—is located in New Hope, Minnesota. They have been making comfort-enhancing products and furniture for the workplace since 1966. Their products include seating solutions, tables and desks, storage and filing cabinets, lighting solutions, wastebaskets and bins, and more.

InteVision—Is a maker of a number of support pillows and bed wedges. Their wedges are known for their orthopedic support of the back and upper body, employing "memory foam" for greater comfort.

Fellowes—is a manufacturer of business machines, filing cabinets, workplace management products, air purification systems for the home and office, and mobile technology accessories. They were founded in Chicago, Illinois, by Harry Fellowes in 1918, starting out as manufacturers of document and records storage solutions. They are presently run by Jamie Fellowes--Harry Fellowes great-grandson--making document shredders, air purifiers, binding and laminating machines, and workplace ergonomic solutions.

Econo High—are located in Burnaby, British Columbia. They are makers of a compact, portable footrest. Their footrest can be folded up and carried in a purse or backpack.