Ergonomic kneeling chairs come in all sort of shapes and sizes and are fabricated from a multitude of designers who have their own specific theories on ergonomics. In the late 1960s, more workers began sitting at desks longer and the need to remain comfortable and safe at the desk increased greatly. Many problems can arise if one sits too long, and ergonomics were implement on many chair designs. Back problems and even problems in the fingers and arms can come about when sitting for long periods of time. This is where many ergonomic kneeling chair come in handy.


One of the best positions to reduce pressure on the lower back is to stand, after all standing is what humans evolved to do so well. If you are going to sit for long periods of time and you know that you suffer from back pain, consider an kneeling chair. These ergonomic seating solutions have been around since the early 1970s, however the common version of this chair came about in 1979. Earlier versions have the user in a kneeling position with some support for the bottom. However, the 1979 Balans chairs from Peter Opsvik would offer a balance between pressure on the knee and pressure on the back. The result is a chair where you sit and rest your knees on, balancing the pressure on the bottom, knees and shins.

Early ergonomic kneeling chairs featured a rocker base which made it difficult for office workers to be able to roll like their co-workers in office chairs with casters. 5-star bases were later introduced, allowing users to enjoy a great freedom when working in an office. Backs have been added into kneeling chair designs to further give workers a more conventional office chair look. But, these backs on ergonomic chairs can sometimes prevent the benefits of kneeling chairs designs from obtaining the comfort they offer.

Ergonomic kneeling chairs continue to be enjoyed by office workers who rely on the benefits of this ergonomically designed office chair. Since the bottom and the shins bear some of the weight, the name 'kneeling chair' is actually a little bit of a misnomer. by sitting directly on the knees, knee problems can arise, diminishing any potential ergonomic gain. By sitting properly in an kneeling office chair, one should keep the lower body angled allowing the spine to align. The benefit of this position is that one can lean forward and the body should remain at an ergonomic 90 degrees.

When shopping for an ergonomic kneeling chair there are a few details that should be considered. Knee chairs at larger stores such as Office Depot or Staples are rarely available, or sturdy for that matter. Searching for kneeling chairs on your favorite search engine will give you tens of thousands of choices. Thousands of online furniture retailers offer kneeling chairs in many different styles, designs and may feature different ergonomic theories. The advantage of shopping online is that you can bargain shop and cross-compare very easily. However, the disadvantage is not being able to try out a chair prior to purchasing it. Because ergonomic kneeling chairs are so compact, they can be shipped for very little, allowing even the most sophisticated kneeling chair to rival the price and comfort of even a mid-range traditional ergonomic office chair.

Padding. Lots of it. Look for a lot of padding on both the knee pad and the seat. It is very important that these areas remain supportive on your knees, shins, and buttocks. Look for about three to four inches of padding on the knee/shin pad for adequate support and softness, however anything above four inches should be optimal. If the specific model that you are looking at has casters, be very careful. Sometimes these casters or wheel can get in the way of you getting the most comfort out of your ergonomic kneeling chair. Casters can move while you are trying to enter the sitting position, but experienced users may indeed find themselves seeing it as a non-issue.

Ergonomic kneeling chairs may not be for everyone. Doctors often recommend them as alternatives to those who have had back surgery in the past few months, or simply can't stand the long sitting hours most office jobs require. Others choose the posture kneeling chair for its simplicity. Lisa Simpsons is a fan of the kneeling chair, you can find many cameo appearances in episodes of The Simpsons.By: Kurt GrohlArticle Directory: http://www.articledashboard.comBrowse through a modest selection of