The more time you spend sitting in front of a desk and using a computer or completing other tasks, the more likely you are to develop lower back and neck pains. That’s an unfortunate reality due largely to the negative impact that extended periods in a seated position have on posture. It’s common to hunch forward while watching a computer screen, reviewing paperwork, etc., without even knowing you’re doing it.
Now, imagine improving your posture while sitting comfortably in a chair as you work. That’s what a kneeling chair can do for you.
Traditional chairs that keep your upper body and legs at a 90-degree angle are still popular. However, people are increasingly embracing the many benefits of ergonomic kneeling chairs.
Hans Christian Mengshoel invented the first kneeling chair in 1979. Variable™ was one of the first prototypes made of wood. Currently, you can find posture chairs with wood or metal frames, many with components like armrests or backrests for added comfort.
The posture chair’s main purpose is to reduce lower back pain. It does this by supporting your weight on the seat while putting your legs in a position that promotes a more natural orientation for your spine.
Mengshoel and other researchers recognized that when a person is seated in a traditional chair, they can only bend 60 degrees at the hip joint. Any additional movement comes from the lower back, which conflicts with the spine’s natural curve. The result is excess pressure on the lower back that causes various problems, often leading to chronic back pain.
Kneeling chairs create an open body angle that’s much more natural and better for the bones, muscles, spinal discs, and other structures involved in keeping your torso upright. People trying a kneeling chair for the first time will often comment that it just “feels right.”
Kneeling chairs offer several benefits, including:
Improved posture
With posture chairs, the spine is aligned correctly due to the pelvis tilting forward. In addition, your breathing and digestion improve since the pelvis is in an open position and the internal abdominal organs experience less compression.
Pain relief
Chronic pain can be quite frustrating, affecting focus, concentration, and overall quality of life. Ergonomic kneeling chairs put the spine in a more natural position and support your weight effectively, thereby reducing back pain. In addition, kneeling chairs promote better circulation that ensures that your brain and other tissues get the oxygen and nutrients they need.
Strengthened core muscles
The more you use your posture chair, the stronger your core muscles get. This is mainly because you continually engage your abdominal and back muscles in healthy, natural ways.
Improved comfort
Many posture chairs enable you to set things like the seat height and angle to tailor them to your physical characteristics and maximize your comfort.
Posture/kneeling chairs provide an array of benefits—from enhancing your comfort to promoting better posture—and shoppers are learning more about the advantages. Still, certain myths about kneeling chairs developed years ago and persist today.
To be clear, none of the following are true when a high-quality kneeling chair is used as designed, including letting the seat support your full weight and simply resting your shins on the pads:
It’s true that it’s important to get up and move around periodically during extended periods of sitting, but that’s the case with any type of chair. Ultimately, an ergonomic kneeling office chair can actually help you stay comfortable longer when seated.
From kneeling chairs for posture improvement to massage chairs for relaxation, the only way to know how a chair will affect you is to try it.
If you’ve never used a kneeling chair, it will certainly feel different than a traditional chair, and the process of getting into and out of it will require a little more of your attention the first few times you do it. However, most people that visit a Furniture For Life showroom and try an ergonomic kneeling chair find that the healthy posture their body assumes quickly begins to feel natural—because it is!
Reward yourself with comfort and better posture by bringing home a kneeling chair from Varier.
