Courtesy of Sleekform

Kneeling Chairs

This article is to help you better understand kneeling chairs as an alternative option to using conventional chairs. The use of kneeling chairs comes as a positive option with what is becoming a growing problem in the U.S. The problem is prolonged sitting for long periods of time. Prolonged sitting increases your chances of diabetes, obesity, spinal degeneration, and even shorten your lifespan by 50% (1). Kneeling chairs can help by changing your body position taking the strain off your hips and back. In addition to changing your body position and taking regular breaks you can reduce physical pain, improve posture and productivity (2).

Article Summary

• Why use Kneeling Chairs
• How they Work
• Taking Breaks
• Top 5 Kneeling Chairs

Why use Kneeling Chairs?

Originally designed byHans Christian Mengshoel in the late ‘70s, kneeling chairs provide a number of benefits for desk workers who need to take pressure off their backs and promote better posture.

Typical office chairs have you sit at a 90-degree angle putting pressure on your spine.  The pressure leads you to fatigue and causes you to slump. An unhealthy slumped posture in front of a desk— leads to pain and inflammation over time. With compression over time, your spine will change in an abnormal way that can lead to serious back problems.

How they Work – Kneeling Chairs and Neutrality

Kneeling chairs are designed to put your pelvis in a more neutral position creating a natural curve in the low back. When the pressure is reduced your body sits in a posture that is easier on your joints. The decreasing pressure on that joints relieves pain.

Kneeling chairs work by making you sit at about a 20-degree slant allowing you sit more upright.

According to a 2008 study in Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, ergonomic kneeling chairs set at 20 degrees (or more) inclination can maintain standing lumbar curvature—your posture—to a greater extent than sitting on a standard computer chair (3-7).

Take Breaks

I encourage people with kneeling chairs to get up fairly often. Any position held for too long can be a detriment to your posture. Take 10 minute posture breaks every hour and move positions every 15-20 minutes. Consistent movement is one of the ways lessen the impact of poor posture at your desk.

TOP 5 Kneeling Chairs on the Market:

There are so many options out on the market. I recommend, when buying a kneeling chair, to watch out for these 6 features: 

• Adjustable Height
• Easy to assemble
• Cushion thickness
• Quality cushion
• Durable
• Well-built wheels

Walmart GOplus $49.49

• Height adjustment range 19.7″-28.7″
• Thickness of cushion 2.8″
• Small adjustments can be made
• Typical office chair wheels
• Nice basic design

Very affordable for those who want test out kneeling chairs. Can be found on Walmart’s online store: Click here.

OfficeDepot Boss $79.99

• Height adjustment range 20″ to 25″
• Cushion size 16 1/2″W x 13″D
• Nice tubular design
• Typical office chair wheels

Affordable and durable. Find it at OfficeDepot. Click here.

Walmart Officestar $107.74

• Good design options
• Adjustable. Comfortable Memory foam
• Typical office chair wheels

On Amazon: Click here.

Sleekform $104

• Height adjustment range 21.7 to 28.5″
• Thickness of cushion 2″ memory with 2″ regular foam
• Well Built
• Easily Adjustable
• Roller blade Caster wheels

Unique heavy duty castor chair wheels. On Amazon: Click here.

Varier $399.99

• Original knee chair design
• Time tested and reputable chair
• Back support option
• 13 Color selections
• Not adjustable

Can be found on their website www.varierfurniture.com or on Amazon. Click here.

References

(1) Mortality and posture. Kado et al 2005, Cancer, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Levine, 2013

(2) Posture Improvement and Productivity

(3) Annetts, S., Coales, P., Colville, R., Mistry, D., Moles, K., Thomas, B., & van Deursen, R. (2012). A pilot investigation into the effects of different office chairs on spinal angles. European Spine Journal, 21(Suppl 2), 165–170.10.1007/s00586-012-2189-z

(4) Bettany-Saltikov, J., Warren, J., & Jobson, M. (2008). Ergonomically designed kneeling chairs are they worth it?: Comparison of sagittal lumbar curvature in two different seating postures. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 140, 103–106.

(5) Bridger, R. S., Von Eisenhart-Rothe, C., & Henneberg, M. (1989). Effects of seat slope and hip flexion on spinal angles in sitting. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 31(6), 679–688.10.1177/001872088903100604

(6) Castanharo, R., Duarte, M., & McGill, S. (2014). Corrective sitting strategies: An examination of muscle activity and spine loading. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 24(1), 114–119.10.1016/j.jelekin.2013.11.001

(7) Cho, I. Y., Park, S. Y., Park, J. H., Kim, T. K., Jung, T. W., & Lee, H. M. (2015). The effect of standing and different sitting positions on lumbar lordosis: Radiographic study of 30 healthy volunteers. Asian Spine Journal, 9(5), 762–769.10.4184/asj.2015.9.5.762