Most of us spend long hours in our office chairs, and if the chair tilts or leans, it can put unwanted stress on our back and joints. As such, it is important to learn how to fix an office chair that leans forward for a pain-free workday.

First thing's first, most office injuries occur as a result of poor posture while seated. To improve posture, we've gotten some tips for ergonomics experts and applied them to our workday. First, don't perch on the edge of your chair, instead push your hips back, leaving two inches between the edge of your seat and the back of your knees. Your feet should be flat on the ground and your knees at a 90-degree angle. Finally, recline your chair at a 100 to 110-degree angle for a comfortable seating position.

If your office chair leans forward instead of being at a slight recline, you'll need to adjust it to ensure proper posture and blood flow. Occupational health experts recommend using a fully adjustable office chair. That means you should be able to adjust both the height and tilt of your chair, as well as the height of the armrests. Locate the tilt adjustment knob that is located beneath the seat pan (the part of the chair you sit on) of your chair, keeping in mind that the ideal resting tilt for your seat is between zero (parallel to the floor) and four degrees). If the back of your chair leans forward, be sure to recline it. By sitting at a slight recline, you will distribute your weight more effectively and take a load off your spine.

If the chair's levers aren't solving the problem, check the castors (or little wheels) on your chair - sometimes they get loose or break. If the castors are loose, tighten the screws, and replace any broken ones. Another potential culprit is the metallic plate underneath your seat pan. This plate allows your chair to swivel, but the screws that fasten it to the seat pan can become loose with use. Tightening the screws in the swivel plate will often do the trick.

All in all, if you have a good chair and work on maintaining proper posture during your workday, office injuries are bound to decrease. It can be challenging, but good habits are worth keeping!