Kneeling chair
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A kneeling chair is a type of chair for sitting in a position with the thighs dropped to an angle of about 60 to 70 degrees from vertical (as opposed to 90 degrees when sitting in a normal chair), with some of the body's weight supported by the shins.
Kneeling chairs were invented in Norway in the 1970s, starting with Hans Christian Mengshoel's experiments on sitting devices with support under the shins. Furniture designers Peter Opsvik, Oddvin Rykken, and Svein Gusrud each developed chairs based on this principle.
These designs took as their starting point the strain placed on the spine by conventional right-angled chairs. Kneeling chairs sought to open up the angle between the thigh and the spine, making it easier to retain the natural curvature of the lower back (the lumbar).
Despite the name, the posture of a person in a kneeling chair is not the same as kneeling on the ground. It is sometimes assumed that the knees bear most of the body's weight when sitting in a kneeling chair, but this is incorrect--the shins bear some weight for stability, but you are still sitting (not kneeling).
This posture changes the stress distribution of the human body in comparison with the sitting position of an ordinary chair and is recommended for certain diseases or injuries of the backbone. Because the angle of the hip joint is between that of sitting and standing, it allows the spine, particularly the lumbar (lower region), to be in a more "neutral," or middle-of-range, position.
It is known by other names:
- Balans chair (a trademark)
- Various versions of "balance chair", or "knee chair" or even Scandinavian/Swedish/Norwegian chair.
[edit] Kneelsit Balance chair
This chair differs from other kneeling chairs by incorporating an adjustable backrest (lumbar support).
The Kneelsit's innovation is the mounting of the seat and kneeler on swivel-axle bearings. This allows for continuous movement in the body of the user.
The design has provision for altering the seat and kneeler for users - up to 2 metres tall.
