Whether you’re a master cook at home or an avid user of standing desks to get your work done, you probably spend a lot of time on your feet while at it.
While standing can help improve your posture and performance, it can also stress your joints and the lower half of your body. This is where anti-fatigue mats come in handy.
They have soft materials to help balance the added weight on your joints, and some even have built-in surfaces to encourage movement.
What are anti-fatigue mats?
The soft fabric of the rugs has ergonomic properties. It is designed to reduce muscle fatigue and pain caused by prolonged standing on hard surfaces such as concrete floors. These soft rugs are made from various materials, including leather, carpet, wood, and vinyl.
Soft anti-fatigue mats help reduce foot and leg pain in workers who stand for long periods. These rugs come in different colours, sizes, and shapes to suit different environments. In addition, waterproof mats are available in different thicknesses and resiliencies, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
The benefits of using anti-fatigue mats
The use of such mats has many benefits besides improving blood circulation. First, it improves your posture. When you stand on a soft surface, your legs are more active in maintaining balance. You will find yourself making minor changes to your situation.
These changes reduce the stiffness of the joints and relieve pressure on the spine and back muscles. This means fewer cases of back pain and less chance of developing chronic diseases.
Using a mat in your stand-up workspace relieves tension in your shoulders and neck, decreasing the chances of headaches. Furthermore, mats protect your feet. They reduce pressure and provide a way to insulate yourself from the cold floor.
Regular use of a standing mat will help you develop your stability. With the right mat, you’ll hardly notice you’re standing for minutes.
How to Choose the Perfect Anti-Fatigue Mat
Choosing a quality rug is essential to ensure you get a good fit. As with many other products, there are many benefits and prices. Our recommendations are based on our experience as an integrator for more than five years.
We use standing desks and stand for 10-12 hours a day, so we spent many hours standing and formed strong ideas about what to wear on a standing mat. We’ve also bought and tested many different types of mats, so we have a broad understanding of the options available on the market.
There are so many rugs to buy online that it can be challenging to make sure you’re choosing the right rug. Most mats look the same online. Most of them are black and square. The information usually has a lot of common languages that many people choose based on the image, price, and customer reviews. Some of this information may be helpful but keep in mind that reviews often come from people who received free products in exchange for a positive review.
Let’s look at some of the essential things to consider when choosing the perfect anti-fatigue mat:
1. Pressure
Before buying a waterproof mat, check how much weight it can support. Different mats can support different body weights. Choosing a mat that suits your physical body is best.
For example, if you weigh 250 kg. and choose a mat rated for heavy weight, like 150 pounds, that mat won’t fit. He will lose his composure and fatigue and become useless in the long run. All good mats offer a variety of weights to choose from.
2. Resiliency
Having the resilience of a mat to resist fatigue is essential. Because the resilience of the rug dramatically affects the comfort of the person standing on it.
Therefore, a very soft carpet will not last if a well-cared-for carpet. A rubber mat reduces fatigue, improves blood circulation and stimulates leg muscles to promote specific changes in posture to increase blood flow.
On the other hand, choosing a too-hard rug is pointless, mainly if you use it on a hard floor. This will cause unnecessary stress and strain the leg muscles, increasing fatigue. Ultimately, this will reduce your productivity.
A fatigue-absorbing mat must provide the best possible balance and, at the same time, be responsive. The mat should quickly return to its original shape when you put your weight on it. Ultimately, you want a flexible mat that will protect your mattress in the event of a fall while providing support and comfort for regular standing and walking.
3. Safety features
Another factor to consider when purchasing a soft office rug is safety. So, when choosing a non-slip mat, ensure it matches the floor. To avoid slipping and tripping, most soft mats have anti-slip edges that allow you to move around safely on and off the mat.
For small, lightweight rugs that don’t get tired, use square rugs to hold the rug in place. For slippery jobs, opting for a raised surface anti-fatigue mat provides extra grip, reducing slippage and road hazards.
4. Materials
Most mats are made from polyurethane foam or other foam compounds. As a consumer, it isn’t easy to know if the polyurethane foam used in a rug is of high quality, but as with most products, these basic materials come in many forms—of different quality.
Some floor mats on the market use leather as the base material instead of polyurethane foam. Still, most leather-based floor mats don’t have the “compliance” needed to provide maximum seating comfort.
Please note that some mats have a leather top while others are made of leather or similar materials. It needs to be clarified whether one type of top material is better. It’s more about personal preferences and convenience.
5. Price
Cheap carpets are made from low-quality materials. It is not durable and can easily break from wear. In addition, it affects your health.
By spending a few extra dollars, you can ensure that your anti-fatigue mat supports your body. In addition, this ensures that it will last the test of time, and you do not need to change it quickly.
Self-contained anti-fatigue mats strike the right balance between capacity and efficiency. Soft mats are the thickest and most durable.
Conclusion
Anti-fatigue mats are available in all shapes, materials, and sizes. Whatever you choose, make sure you have enough space to stand and move around. It’s also excellent if you choose something thick, dirt-repellent, and durable, as well as something that you can quickly put away at work. Your back and legs will thank you if you find the best mat.
