An Ergonomic Body Balance Chair Has Benefits for Your Back

By Keira Adams

While commonplace ergonomic office chairs involve a typical seated position, with the majority of of the person's body weight resting on the posterior, and the remainder dispersed against the back rest, there is a kind of chair, known as an ergonomic body balance chair, which provides knee support too. The distinctive partially kneeling posture that this type of chair requires the person to take up is meant to offer better safety and comfort, and leave the individual feeling energized even after several hours of being seated. Here is an examination of some of the claims made regarding the ergonomic body balance chair.

The manufacturers of these products claim that ergonomic body balance chairs minimize spinal compression and reduce stress and tension in the muscles of the legs and back. Their design is based on kneeling chairs that were created by a furniture designer from Norway during the 1970s, which have undergone considerable testing. Studies of these chairs established that they're just as comfortable as a properly formulated computer chair; however, for people having problems with back pain, they could be quite beneficial for helping to avoid more damage. A major disadvantage, however, is that getting up and sitting down is more difficult than with a typical computer chair.

Typically, a body balance ergonomic chair includes a fabric covered, padded knee rest and seat, attached to a steel frame. This assembly is mounted on dual axle castors. The seat and knee rest are adjustable in order to adapt the chair's alignment to the particular requirements of the person who uses it.

One difference that the body balance chair has from the traditional desk chair is that an ergonomic chair provides support to the middle back region, while the kneeling chair is generally without a back. Hybrid kneeling chairs with back support can be found, however. Being seated without a proper back rest has been held responsible for causing curvature of the backbone, however trials have demonstrated that this curvature is no worse than it is when standing up normally.

Further negative aspects of ergonomic body balance chairs are that they put the burden of carrying body weight on the shins and that they flex the knees and ankles more than a typical chair. They are not recommended for anyone who has to sit for more than three hours at once. But for short intervals, they can offer considerable comfort, and may actually be the best chair for your individual circumstances. - 29947

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