Could The Kneeling Chair Be The Key To Your WFH Success?

According to the International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 76 percent of people suffer musculoskeletal symptoms due to working from a poor office set up. 

Here’s the good news: There’s no need for you to go without that same level of comfort at home, and a kneeling chair could be the answer you need. Not only does it offer a great ergonomic solution it’s also a massive space saver compared to a lot of other ergonomic chairs.  Because kneeling chairs don’t have backrests (nor do they need them!) they slide effortlessly under your breakfast nook that might have recently been promoted to your home office.  

We always get a lot of questions about our kneeling chairs, but right now questions and tensions are higher than usual. The number one question always is “But, what does a kneeling chair actually do?” 

There are a ton of misconceptions out there about what the purpose and benefits of a kneeling chair actually is- “will it hurt my knees?”, “is it bad for my hips?”, the list of assumptions goes on and on. 

Let’s go back in time a little bit.  When the ergonomic kneeling chair first came into existence, it was a game-changer. Until this type of ergonomic stool was introduced in the '70s, the chair industry had stayed pretty much the same. It can easily be considered the most radical chair design of the 20th century... we'd go so far to say ever since the invention of the throne itself...bow down.

The reason it is so radical is that like any good rebel, the kneeling chair directly challenges habits that have been in our culture for millennia. As a manner of sitting, it keeps us guessing because it places you somewhere between sitting and standing, and typically there is no back to lean against. It is not a stool, but it's also not quite a chair.

The kneeling chair was first exported to America in the 1980s from Norway, and over the last number of decades, the kneeling chair has slowly become more recognized in American culture. The operative word here is "slowly."  And we’re here to change that.  

The justification of the balance kneeling chairs (like the Austin and Amsterdam) lies in solving the problem of stress on the lower back (the flattening or even rounding of the natural lumbar curve). This is caused mainly by sitting in a conventional right-angle chair. By dropping the knees our thighs are placed at an oblique angle in relation to our spines (somewhere between 120-125 degrees), the muscular work makes sitting upright feel almost effortless. This opens up the possibility of getting rid of the chair back.  Every time we put someone new into a kneeling chair the first response is “ah, this is nice” due to the newfound obtuse angle of their hips that allows their spine to align naturally.  

This observation that muscular effort is most evenly balanced front to back and top to bottom of the torso when the legs are at an oblique, not a right angle to the spine led to the kneeling chair.  What a game-changer!

Another radical form of sitting has been developed around perching that offers similar biochemical advantages. Many researchers agree that the lower back when seated, needs to assume the position that naturally occurs when sitting on a high stool or lying down on your side in bed. The 135-degree relationship between the spine and the legs is the one used in the martial arts for the most significant stamina and flexibility. It's called the 'horse' the position, and it's super awkward for your opponent to uproot you while at the same time, readies you to move in any direction. The king of good posture, F.M Alexander, this specific posture "the position of mechanical advantage." This is also the position the human body takes while floating through space in zero gravity. It's quite literally effortless.

 

 How Do I Sit On A Kneeling Chair?

The truth of the matter is: there is no one way to do it. The only rule is that you do it in whatever way makes you feel stable and secure. It may feel a bit awkward and clumsy the first couple of times, but after a few tries, it will feel as natural as sitting down into any other chair.

Another thing that’s important to note: it’s going to be just as big of an adjustment for your body as it is for your mind.

Time and time again, people skeptically climb into our kneeling chairs. There’s always a moment of brief hesitation. You can see just a glimmer of fear in their eyes. A look of “am I about to fall over?” comes over their faces. And time and time again, they sit on it correctly, on the first try.

“Ouuuuu!” they say as they begin to cautiously rock back and forth, adjusting their posture, looking up at the ceiling as they assess what the chair is doing for their bodies. You can see them silently comparing it to the chair they currently spend most of their time in.

“Wow!” they exclaim. “This is actually really nice!” as they rock back and forth, sussing out the effortless angle their hips were just shifted into when their legs were dropped into the oblique angle. They play around with the placement of their shoulders for a few seconds before quickly becoming aware that they don’t need to shift around, that they are naturally in a healthy posture.

They always say it’s “actually really nice”- confirming the initial doubts they had. We get it- it doesn’t really look like a chair- or at least the kind of chair you could use 9 to 5, but trust us- it is (and don’t worry, you’re likely not going to fall out of it!).

 

Will A Kneeling Chair Make You Sore? 

 If you plan on completely replacing your current office chair with a new ergonomic kneeling chair there are few things to note;

#1- Good for you! You’ve made a great, healthy choice for you and your spine, and you are going to see and feel the benefits almost immediately. You’re also about to be the talk of the office or home!

#2- Don’t be surprised if you do experience some shin and back muscle tenderness at first. This is very normal and won’t last long.

Think of it like when you get a good massage. The day after you visit your RMT, you will probably be sore and need an Epsom salt bath, but in the long run, you’re going to feel so much better. The tenderness you’re feeling (likely in your shins and upper back) is your body realigning, reconfiguring, and adapting to the kneeling chair. You’re going to be using muscles that you have gone ignored for… well… ever. Your spine is in a fresh new position, the muscles are adapting to that change, and your legs aren’t accustomed to holding your weight in this way. It might make your shins feel a bit like they are bruised- just remember that this is to be expected, and it won’t last long.

It’s not unlike when you start a new workout- the next day, you’re going to feel it no matter how in shape you might be. You always know when you’ve been using sneaky new muscles that don’t usually get much attention, which is why we recommend starting slowly and working your way up. Start by spending an hour or so in the kneeling chair and gradually increasing the time you spend in it over a week, or however long it takes for your body to get fully accustomed. Again, there are no rules on how to properly enjoy your chair-- the important thing is that you enjoy it.

 

Can You Fully Replace Your Desk Chair with a Kneeling Chair?

Another piece of advice is to try and keep your old chair handy for at least the first week of adjusting to a full time kneeling chair, if possible. It's best to play it safe just in case you find yourself getting distracted by the changes your body is going through. The whole point of upgrading to a new chair is to increase your productivity and focus during the day- there's no need to ruin that by rushing into things.

After your body has adjusted to your new kneeling chair you can sit, and sit, and sit, and sit to your heart's content!

Our team at Sleekform is proud to be able to offer you a practical and straightforward tool to help with your work from home ailments. You have a lot on your mind right now as you navigate this new normal and the last thing you need is back pain. We believe in the power of productivity and focus to eliminate stress and that’s something we could all benefit from. 

 

And don’t worry, just like our chairs- we’ve got your back, please reach out to us with any questions or concerns you may have.  Whether it is regarding kneeling chairs, your home office ergonomic setup, or remote work.  We’re always here to help.  

 

Not ready to just take our word for it? That's fine- we get it! Check out what photographer Kara Trombetta has to say about how our Austin Kneeling Chair changed her posture! You can read her blog here