Working in a Sitting Position - Alternative Chairs

Why would a person use an alternative style of chair?

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. Poor posture occurs when the 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:

• context How the chair helps or hinders their natural posture.
• context Presence or absence of pressure points.
• context Ability to change positions easily.
• context Ability to do the tasks required while sitting.

What are examples of “alternative” chairs?

• context 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.

What is a forward sloping chair?

• context 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.

What are some advantages of a forward sloping chair?

The use of a forward sloping chair may:

• context Increase the number of possible positions
• context Improve visual distance and angle to the task on a worktable
• context Improve return blood flow from the lower legs, provided that the effort is more dynamic than static load on the muscles

What is a kneeling chair?

• context A kneeling chair has a fixed seat sloping forward and padded support for knees. It does not have a back rest. A kneeling chair places the user in a modified kneeling position.

What are some advantages of a kneeling chair?

The use of a kneeling chair may:

• context Provide alignment for the spine or reduce the load on the lower back
• context Make forward-reaching easier
• context Improve visual distance and angle to the task on a worktable

When would you use a saddle chair or a sit-stand seat?

• context 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.

What are some advantages of a saddle chair?

The use of a saddle chair may:

• context Encourage the user to have an upright, active posture
• context Allow for a widened sit-stand (i.e., semi-standing) stance
• context Be useful when the user needs to have a higher stance than a normal sitting position (e.g., a dentist needing to lean over a patient, or a cashier needing to be close to the eye level of customers)
• context An alternative when accommodating individuals who can neither fully sit nor stand

What is a wearable or chairless chair?

• context A wearable chair replaces many of the physical structures of a traditional chair with components that are attached directly to the body. It allows sitting or semi-sitting positions to be adopted in environments or tasks where chairs are not ideal.

What are some advantages of a wearable chair?

The use of a wearable chair may:

• context Allow users to be more mobile while still being able to sit when needed(e.g., working at different locations in a large warehouse, rotating workstations)
• context Allow adjustments to the sitting angle

Are there some other things I should know about alternative seating?

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:

• context Reduces tension in the thigh muscles, by widening the angle of the knees.
• context Reduces compression on the knees, ankles and lumbar region (middle to lower back).
• context Improves blood circulation.
• context Do not maintain kneeling/sitting position for extended periods.
• context Avoid bending.
• context Stand up and walk whenever possible.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using fitness or exercise balls as seating?

• context Fitness (also known as exercise, therapy, or stability) balls are 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.

What are some advantages of a fitness ball chair?

The use of a fitness ball chair may:

• context Encourage dynamic posture