The selection of chairs on the market today is simply stunning. There’s a focus on furniture that combats the effects of sitting for long periods of time. When you’re on the lookout for the different types of kneeling chairs, you’ll find they have many health benefits.
Whether you want to change things up in your office or you need something to relieve the pressure on your back, join us for a look at kneeling chairs in all their forms and how to find the perfect one for yourself.
An Overall Look at Kneeling Chairs
Kneeling chairs get their name from the form that you’re in when using them. They are designed to place you in a position where your thighs are at an angle between sixty and seventy degrees.
This position is far better than the standard ninety-degree angle when sitting on a regular office chair. It shifts your body weight, so there’s less pressure on the lower back and buttocks.
So, if you experience pain in your tailbone or coccyx area, a kneeling office chair could help. If you sit in an office chair most of the day, you could also benefit from one of these chairs.
Let’s find out which types are available to you.
A Look at Balans Kneeling Chairs
Balans chairs are designed to place the user in a sitting position that angles the thighs between 60 and 70 degrees, as opposed to the normal 90-degree sitting position most chairs have.
In this position, the body’s weight is distributed across multiple areas. These chairs are meant to reduce lower back strain by splitting the body’s weight more evenly across the knees and buttocks.
These types of chairs can benefit people who have pain in their coccyx and tailbone. Sitting in office chairs for long periods of time can also cause this type of pain.
When sitting in these types of chairs, the spine is in alignment. If the person leans forward, the body angle remains at 90 degrees or wider. Some misunderstood reports say that people with bad knees shouldn’t use these chairs.
This is not true. Since most of the body weight is still on the buttocks, the rest is placed onto the shins. No weight is put on your knees. The only reason for the shin padding is to keep the person from sliding off the chair.
Studies have shown that balans chairs are great for people who sit for longer periods of time. One such study by A.C Mandal found that a sloped seat tips the pelvis and opens the angle between your torso and thighs.
This process aligns the spinal column, which is a better position for sitting. Other studies from recent years have also found that these ergonomically designed chairs do a good job of keeping your standing posture intact while sitting.
Let’s find out what types of kneeling and balan chairs are available today.
Types of Ergonomic Kneeling Chairs
Depending on your setting and needs, several types of kneeling and balans chairs could fit what you’re looking for. Let’s discuss them in detail:
Kneeling Stool
Kneeling stools are simple and inexpensive furniture that offers the benefits of this furniture without the high costs. These stools often have wheels, a wood frame, and two basic pads in each corner.
This is the perfect chair for your home as it’s simple and effective.
Executive Kneeler
An executive kneeling chair is a perfect addition to any office setting. These come with memory foam pads that offer great support for long hours. The pads are bound in leather, and the frame is typically made from high-quality polished wood or steel frame.
This version of the kneeling chair combines a sleek look with premium materials, making it perfect for use at home or in an office.
Deluxe Kneeling Chair
If money is no object and you won’t settle for anything less than the best, a deluxe kneeling chair is a perfect fit. These chairs have adjustable heights, lumbar support, knee pads, and everything else you could want or need.
These types of kneeling chairs may also feature a backrest and a five-wheel design for extra portability.
Single Padded Kneeling Chair
This type of kneeling chair is affordable and simple in design. It has a seat cushion and a cushion for your legs. Many of these types also use wood instead of metal for the structure, making them less expensive.
They usually have wheels as well for quick movement and transportation.
Double-Padded Kneeling Chair
The next type of kneeling chair has two pads for the legs and an open space in the middle. These pads are typically made with special foam that relieves pressure points. The separated pads also keep your legs at an ideal angle.
Some variations of these chairs also have arched bases that allow them to rock back and forth. This promotes muscle tone and helps ease the symptoms of arthritis.
Kneeling Office Chair
This type of kneeling chair has the same features as a regular office chair. It has pneumatic gas lifts that allow you to adjust the height on the fly and caster wheels to help you move around easily.
This type of kneeling chair is also very durable, with its simple but effective metal frame withstanding the test of time.
Saddle Kneeling Chairs
The final type of kneeling chair trades the seating pad for a saddle shape. These curved seats, similar to bicycles’ shapes, work better than a standard flat cushion.
The Pros and Cons of Kneeling Chairs
With all the potential health benefits, you may wonder if there’s any downside to kneeling chairs. Like any piece of furniture, they are not perfect, but plenty of pros outweigh any cons.
Kneeling chairs are ideal for tasks that require fine hand movements. Some people cannot sit in them for prolonged periods while working on a computer. Furthermore, especially tall people may have trouble finding a chair that fits comfortably.
The only other issue is getting in and out of them. Kneeling chairs confine your legs to one position, so it can be tricky to stand up when you exit the chair.
The benefits balance out these minor faults. This type of chair places you in an open hip angle that aligns your hips, back, shoulders, and neck—the ideal posture for sitting.
For those who suffer from back pain, the posture of a kneeling chair can be a breath of fresh air. In some cases, it can alleviate this type of pain when sitting.
The History of Different Types of Kneeling Chairs
The history of the kneeling chair dates back to the 1970s. Hans Christian Mengshoel from Norway was the first to conceive this idea. He was inspired by the sitting positions of Tibetan monks, who often kneel for hours at a time during meditation.
These monks used a seiza bench, which wasn’t great for their knees but did give them a forward-angled seat that aligned their spine with their lower back.
A Danish surgeon named Dr. A.C. Mandal discovered that children in school would lean forward on the front of their chairs to alleviate their back pain. Seeing this, he suggested that chairs should have a forward angle.
This would tilt the pelvis forward and align the hips with the spine for an ideal posture. Mengshoel used this information to design his kneeling chair.
The original kneeling chair design had metal or wooden frames that sat on the ground. This design was a concern for many as it allowed the user to lean forward to the point of tipping over.
X-bar frames were the next stage of the kneeling chair evolution. These frames allowed the users to adjust the height of the chair. The latest innovation is using a 5-star base like many office chairs.
With five wheels at the bottom, today’s kneeling chairs resemble other office chairs. The additional wheels also give them more mobility for users in an active environment.
A Brief History of Balans Chairs
The balans version of kneeling chairs began in the early 1980s. A new movement sought to change the older and conservative styles of past sitting furniture. Several young designers, Peter Opsvik, Svein Gusrud, and Oddvin Rykken, had a new understanding of ergonomics.
At this time, we continue to discover the negative effects on the human body when sitting for long periods of time. These designers developed furniture that focused on the users and the concept that the body wasn’t built for sitting still.
By making a piece of furniture that causes your body to sit in balance, you will strengthen muscles in your back, shoulders, and neck. The term “balans” was chosen because it means “balance” in Norwegian.
Those same designers went on to create other types of balans furniture focused on balancing the human body and designing furniture for the user.
What to Look For in Your Balans Chair
Kneeling chairs encourage your body to remain in a good posture without doing all the work. You’ll need to lean more forward than back to get into the best position. Knowing this, you should look for a chair that makes it easy to sit upright and forward.
Look for kneeling chairs with angled seats that encourage this posture. Angles of 20 degrees or more will make it harder to lean back and fall into a bad posture.
If you’re tall, you may have trouble finding a chair that fits. A standard desk height doesn’t leave much room for your legs, so look for chairs with height adjustments to meet your needs.
Remember that people with knee problems don’t need to avoid these chairs. They take the pressure off your back but should not put that weight on your knees.
Kneeling Chairs for All
Anyone can enjoy these types of kneeling chairs. They are a versatile piece of furniture that offers better posture than standard chair designs. Not only this, but they also come in various designs and costs for any need.
Try a kneeling chair to see what sitting in an ideal posture feels like.