What is a Kneeling Chair?
A kneeling chair is a chair designed to allow the user to sit in a position which allows the thighs to drop to an angle of approximately 60-70 degrees from the vertical, as opposed to the traditional 90 degrees when sitting in a normal desk chair). This allows for some of the body’s weight to be supported by the shins and stronger muscles of the legs rather than all being pushed through the spine and buttocks. The original modern kneeling chair was invented in 1979 by Hans Christian Mengshoel.
The kneeling chair has a number of advantages for the user. Firstly, the chair is believed to be capable of reducing pain in the lower back through dividing the burden of the user’s weight between their shins and buttocks, rather than the weight all being put through the buttocks in traditional chairs. This is particularly useful for people who suffer with pain in the coccyx or lumbar region of the spine, as is common for office workers. Another advantage of the kneeling chair is that it encourages proper alignment of the spine and thus proper posture. It does so by tipping the pelvis forward and opening up the angle between the thigh and torso, thus providing correct posture and a better sitting position. Another advantage is that such chairs can develop the core muscles due to the lack of back support available. Where the back support of ordinary chairs prevent the core muscles from needing to do much work, kneeling chairs force the core muscles to work hard in order to support the user’s back. If such chairs are used consistently the user will begin to notice better core strength and muscle tone as a result. All of these advantages grouped together provide the user with improved comfort and posture which in turn improves concentration and energy levels in contrast to those of a user of a traditional office chair.
Despite all of these advantages, there are some disadvantages to the kneeling chair. Adjusting to their use can take a period of time during which some discomfort must be endured by most users, and persisting through this can be difficult, particularly if it is prolonged. Leg movements are restricted when using a kneeling chair, which many users will find uncomfortable in itself. Restricted movement of the legs and prolonged use of the chair can reduce circulation through the lower limbs, which is bad for the circulatory health of the user. Pressure can also be felt on the user’s shins, as these take some of the pressure of the weight of the body in the kneeling chair, and so this area can become painful. Users may also find the design of the chair uncomfortable to get up and down from. A lack of arm rests can result in pain through the wrists, arms and into the shoulders and neck, potentially even leading to conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, sue to the lack of arm support.
What is a Exercise Ball?
An exercise ball is a ball, usually made of soft elastic and filled with air, approximately 35 to 85 centimetres in diameter and used for exercise routines, weight training, athletic training and/or physical therapy. Exercise balls as we know them now descend from the ‘Swiss Ball’, invented in 1963 by Aquilino Cosani, an Italian plastics manufacturer who developed a process for moulding large puncture-resistant plastic balls.
Exercise balls have various advantages for users, primarily that the individual’s body responds directly to the instability of the exercise ball as opposed to the hard, flat surface which would ordinarily be used to exercise on. This allows them to engage more muscles whilst exercising yet remain balanced, reducing the risk of injury whilst increasing the efficacy of their exercise. The core body muscles will become strengthened by using the ball, being employed to allow the individual to maintain balance whilst sat on the ball.
Another benefit of the exercise ball is that using an unstable surface on which to exercise allows individuals to use more muscle units in exercising without increasing their total exercise load. For example, when an exercise such as a sit up is performed on an exercise ball the abdominal muscles are more actively engaged that they would be should the same exercise be performed on a hard, flat surface, allowing for greater activity and more effective exercise whilst still in effect performing the same amount of exercise load. Another advantage of the exercise ball is that, by comparison with a lot of gym equipment, they are relatively cheap and thus a good way of providing range and greater effectiveness to a workout without huge expense.
However, there are also disadvantages to the exercise ball too. To use it safely for exercise the individual really ought to spend some money on lessons from an expert – not doing so increases the risk of injury in using the ball incorrectly. The exercise ball is an inherently unstable surface and so the chance of injury is increased by comparison with the use of a more stable, traditional exercise surface. Indeed, the instability of the ball can cause the user to focus more greatly on trying to maintain balance on the ball itself rather than on the exercise they are trying to perform, thus both increasing the risk of injury and reducing the effectiveness of the exercise they are performing at the same time. Exercise balls are large when inflated and take up a relatively large amount of space, particularly for those who live in small homes, making them cumbersome and difficult to store.
Comparison
Using both a kneeling chair and an exercise ball as a replacement for a traditional office desk chair brings certain advantages and disadvantages for the user:
- An exercise ball is more versatile for the user than the kneeling chair, allowing for greater flexibility of positioning and movement
- An exercise ball is less restrictive of the legs than a kneeling chair, thus less likely to cause leg pain
- A kneeling chair is more sustainable for longer periods of use, providing a greater distribution of the user’s body weight
- Exercise balls promote weight loss where kneeling chairs do not
- Kneeling chairs are safer due to their greater stability