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Using kneeling chairs in the workplace There’s so many chairs available in the marketplace, it can be seriously difficult and confusing to determine what chair is suitable for you. I remember watching my younger brother play basketball as a junior, and one of the parents would bring a kneeling chair and sit on the sidelines. At the time I thought this was somewhat strange, but when you consider those wooden box-like rows of seats available it probably wasn’t such a bad idea! Here you will find a review of the pro’s and con’s of kneeling chairs to see if they’re suitable for you.

Kneeling Chairs – The Pro’s

Kneeling position allows the hips to remain in an ‘open position’ to encourage proper lower spine alignment and therefore reducing postural strain on the back, neck and shoulders Kneeling chairs may assist reducing muscular and spine pain in particular individuals if fitted properly Kneeling chairs may assist with forward movements

Kneeling Chairs – The Con’s

Kneeling chairs can result in higher lower leg pressure and reduced blood flow due to immobility Kneeling chairs can be difficult to get in and out of therefore potentially leading to tripping over, falls or injuries Kneeling chairs should be fitted to the individual prior to purchasing Kneeling chairs cause over-flexing of the knee and ankle joints potentially leading to problems Kneeling chairs limit movement and therefore result in reduced calorie expenditure Kneeling chairs may force unnecessary stress upon the shoulders, elbows and wrists due to forward movement Given the nature of a immobile sitting position, users may need to reconfigure their work station

There are many factors which contribute to normal posture – when selecting a chair users should keep in mind:

How the chair helps or hinders their natural posture Presence or absence of pressure points Ability to change positions easily Ability to do the tasks required while sitting