Is a Kneeling Chair Right for You?

1. An ergonomic kneeling chair takes pressure from your back and distributes it more evenly to other parts of the body – mostly the shins. Many people with lower back problems say that this chair feels more comfortable than a conventional chair.
2. The angle between your thighs and spine is increased from 90% in regular chairs, to about 120% in kneeling chairs. As a result, the body is closer to a standing position and that means less pressure on the lower back.
3. Kneeling chairs allow you to shift your weight between your buttocks and your knees. You can also extend one leg at a time while you keep the other leg in the normal position. This all create different sitting positions. Most experts advise people sitting down to get up every now and again to give the spine and muscles a break. Sitting in different positions also achieves this, although not in the same degree as getting up and walking around for a few minutes.

Frequently Heard Complaints About Kneeling Chairs

1. Many users find the chair very comfortable for shorter periods of time, but complain that it gets uncomfortable when they sit for a long period. For this reason, some people like to alternate between their normal chair and a kneeling chair.
2. Some users complain that the chair hurts their knees. This may be so, but keep in mind that the reason, in most cases, is an incorrect sitting position by the user, placing too much weight on the knees. The majority of the weight should still remain on the bottom and the kneepads should only be used as support – not to take the majority of weight. 
3. Shorter people complain that certain brands of chairs are uncomfortable because they cannot adjust the chair so that their knees reach the knee pads properly.

It Takes Time to Get Use to a Kneeling Chair

The kneeling chair brings muscles into action that is not used frequently, so you may find that it feels uncomfortable for the first few days. Your muscles may even feel stiff.  

But don’t judge this chair too quickly. You need to give your muscles time to adjust before writing off this chair. Within two weeks your muscles will adjust and you will be in a better position to judge the chair. If you have strong back and stomach muscles, this period may be shorter.

Tips If You are Interested in Buying a Kneeling Chair

1.  Pay specific attention to the padding in the sitting and shin area. Rather too thick than too thin and make sure the foam is dense.
2. If you are short make sure you can adjust the chair so that the knee to hip length matches the length of your upper leg. If it is not adjustable, choose your chair very carefully.
3.  As it takes time for your body to adjust to this chair, make sure the store where you buy the chair allows you sufficient time (at least thirty days) to return the chair in case it is not for you.