We had a kneeling chair delivered to the ChairOffice HQ a few months ago as a new product sample , and we all had great fun testing it out and figuring out how it worked. However, once the novelty wore off and the boss suggested we all get back to work we all retired to our traditional office chairs, and the kneeling chair was left in the corner, only to be used as a foot support when one of our team broke his leg.
Spurred on by the increasingly-mentioned health implications of prolonged sitting , I decided to switch my office chair for the now slightly dusty kneeling chair, and see what happened if I used it every day for a week. As one who needs to know the background information about everything, I did a quick Google search and discovered that Hans Christian Mengshoel is celebrated as the inventor of the modern-day kneeling chair we use today, with his design he made back in However, it has been said that the concept of kneeling chairs can be traced back to ancient Buddhist traditions, where Buddhists use pillows and benches to create a comfortable kneeling position for extending periods of meditation.
A scientific study published in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information found that lumbar curvature on an ergonomically designed kneeling chair is definitely superior to a standard computer chair:. My initial transition to the kneeling chair went down relatively well apart from a few odd looks from my co-workers , I felt perfectly comfortable and supported, and felt no immediate difference comfort-wise from my normal office chair.
However, mid-way into the first day, I did find myself struggling slightly with the adjustment. The kneeling chair naturally forces you to sit up, and after a while I found myself missing the back of my chair, which I usually rely on to hold me up when the morning coffee starts wearing off. Towards the end of the first day I was acutely aware of muscles that I normally never think about abs, thighs, lower back.
Traditional chairs provide your back with complete support, which means your core muscles really aren't doing a whole lot of work. This is one of the main causes of poor posture. After a while, your back starts hunching over your keyboard. The lack of back support on a kneeling chair forces your core muscles to get to work and keeps them engaged throughout the day. After consistent use, you will notice a great improvement in your core strength and improved muscle tone.
As the week progressed, I adjusted to the kneeling chair and found it to be a comfortable and engaging office solution.
Why did they get so popular all of a sudden? Well, many research studies suggest a job where you work eight hours or more at a desk means you have the potential to develop injuries. Sitting for long periods is not good for you and you should be taking regular breaks and performing desk stretches to prevent and ease back pain.
But what are the considerations you should take into account first? Read on to find out. Kneeling chairs are designed to make the lower back arch through shifting the pelvis positioning. This decreases pressure on the facet joints, which are the joints in your spine that make your back flexible. This means you lessen the risk of lower back pain. The best approach is to practice active sitting and varied standing , where your posture and stance changes throughout the day, according to research by Conwell University.
There is no doubt that a good kneeling chair offers some benefits for people looking to improve their posture or suffering with back pain. Its very design takes the pressure off your back and onto your shins while engaging your core muscles. Some people have found great respite from back pain as a result. Combine it with standing, squatting , and moving about periodically to avoid the pitfalls of sitting for too long altogether.
I'm a mechanical engineer and founder of ErgonomicTrends. Good Form. Good Function. Good Health. Call Us: How Does a Kneeling Chair Work? Who Benefits from Using a Kneeling Chair? Bookmark the permalink.
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