My machine bed is at 38" and I 'sit' on a high stool with my right heel on a block of wood so I push down on the foot pedal to operate the machine. Left foot stays on a rung of the stool and shoulders and arms are as they should be. You may think I'm quite tall because of this arrangement, but I'm just 5'3". It sounds really weird, but it works perfectly for me and I never get aches or pains no matter how long I sew.