Kneeling Chair

A kneeling chair is just what it sounds like—a chair where you are in more of a kneeling position than a sitting position, as in a traditional chair. In a standard chair, including office chairs, your thighs are generally parallel to the floor, or at a 90-degree angle from the floor. In a kneeling chair your thighs are at an angle of about 60-70 degrees from vertical. Some of your body weight is then supported by your shins, rather than having your full body weight on the buttocks.

Kneeling chairs were invented in Norway in the 1970's in an effort to improve the comfort of people seated for long periods of time, like at a computer desk. Prior to the development of ergonomic office chairs, standard chairs placed a huge amount of stress on a user's spine, particularly the lower spine, or lumbar region. When users remained stationary at their desks for hours on end with no back support, they became achy and tired, and some suffered repetitive motion injuries.

The kneeling chair was designed to combat this problem. With the thighs lower than the buttocks, the natural curve of the spine is restored, removing stress in that area.

Some people have concerns that their knees will suffer if they use a kneeling chair. This is a misconception mostly based on the name of the chair. In actuality it's not your knees that support some of your weight, but your shins, which are not (hopefully) a moveable joint.

The bulk of your weight is still supported by your seat—there is still a padded seat on a kneeling chair. But because some of the pressure on your back is relieved by the position of your legs an shins, many back pain sufferers report relief when using a kneeling chair.

Kneeling chairs are most effective when the user alternates use with a good ergonomic desk chair. In any office environment it's essential to get up and move throughout the day; using the two different types of chairs makes that possible even while you're getting work done.

Most kneeling chairs have weight limits, and be sure the kneeling chair you're considering is appropriate for your size. Check for seat padding, both for your buttocks and for your shin area. Is the kneeling chair adjustable? If so, in which area or areas?

A couple of other items to keep in mind: If you have poor upper-body posture, you may find the kneeling chair tiring, as it provides no back support. Also, if you suffer from shin splints, you may experience some discomfort, since your shins are going to bear some of the weight of your body. However, using the kneeling chair periodically through the day may help you strengthen those core muscles and give you better posture.

Kneeling chairs are one option for comfort during the workday. Go to an office furniture store and try one out. While you may not decide to use it for all eight hours in a day, even partial days or intermittent use can alleviate back pain and make you more productive.