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For some people, using an alternative chair helps them to maintain appropriate posture.
Posture is the alignment of the body’s head, trunk, and limbs. An active posture requires the coordinated action of many muscles and structures within the body. Active postures can be either static or dynamic. A static posture occurs when we maintain one alignment for a prolonged period of time. Examples include standing, sitting, or kneeling. Dynamic postures refer to body alignments that occur when the body and/or limbs are moving such as walking, jumping, or running.
Generally speaking, a good posture is one in which the head, trunk, and limbs are in a state of balance that protects the body against injury or deformity. Poor posture occurs when body produces increased strain on the supporting structures, and decreased balance over the base of support.
While posture is related to many factors, some people may find that maintaining posture can be helped by using an alternative chair. There is no one single chair that can be recommended. Users should consider:
The forward sloping chair and the kneeling chair are alternatives for workers who sit continuously. A saddle chair (sit-stand seat) allows a worker to alternate between sitting and standing.
A forward sloping chair has a mechanism that allows the user to adjust the tilt of the seat pan forward. The angle of tilt from the horizontal should not be greater than 10 degrees.
The use of a forward sloping chair:
The use of a forward sloping chair:
A kneeling chair has a fixed seat sloping at 30 degrees forward and padded support for knees. It does not have a back rest. A kneeling chair places the user in a modified kneeling position.
A kneeling chair:
A kneeling chair:
Saddle chairs have a different style of seat, one similar to a saddle used by horseback riders. It often has a wider seat that encourages the legs to splay outwards.
A saddle chair may:
A common cited disadvantage of a saddle chair include that raised parts of the seat may place pressure on the genital area.
Sit/stand rests or chairs and sitting/kneeling support could be made available in certain situations.
Rest Chair
It is desirable to have a chair for resting even when work can only be done standing. If space is limited, then a chair that can be folded up and stored out of the way can be used.
Sitting/Kneeling Support
Making hip support available where the work requires kneeling:
Fitness (also known as exercise, therapy, or stability) balls have been used by some people as an alternative chair. The ball must be of the right strength, size, and quality to support the person using it. If recommended by a health care professional, the program should include recommendations such as how long to use the ball per day, how many days, and other accommodations.
Advantages include:
Disadvantages include: