Kneeling Chair Review: The Pros and Cons and Are They Worth It?

As time goes on, more and more evidence grows about the challenges of the traditional office chair. While an ergonomically-designed office chair is about the best you can get in terms of comfortable sitting, there is a range of alternative designs hitting the market. Some people have been replacing their chairs with yoga ball chairs. Others prefer ergonomic stools. Some high-mobility offices have been using saddle seats. And, of course, plenty of people stand instead.

Another alternative style of seating is known as the kneeling chair. What is it, is it worth it, and should you consider trying one out?

These are odd chairs for somebody who has never used one, so let's dig in kneeling chair benefits.

1. How a Kneeling Chair Works

If you’ve never seen a kneeling chair before, you might think it’s something like a cushion you kneel on instead of sitting or standing. The reality is a little different.

A kneeling chair is sort of a cross between a standard chair and a saddle seat. It has a seat cushion and a seat back, and it may or may not have arms. Most do not have arms, as they can get in the way of getting in and out of the seat.

The chair is often on rockers, allowing you to lean forward and put your weight on knee/shin rests instead of entirely on your rear. Your knees bend and curl beneath you, but you don’t sit directly on your legs, which allows you more freedom of movement and prevents you from cutting off blood flow to your legs. Meanwhile, the forward tilt of the chair allows the chair’s back to press into and support you, particularly in your lumbar area, while you work.

Instead of the traditional 90-90-90 posture (where your waist, knees, and ankles are all 90-degree bends), a kneeling chair allows you more flexibility. Typically, your waist is around a 135-degree angle, and your knees are closer to a 45-degree angle, with your ankles left to dangle unsupported.

Overall, this position and posture give you the freedom and comfort of sitting in a more relaxed position and let you move and stretch more than a traditional office chair. On the other hand, they can put pressure on parts of your legs that aren’t used to it, and some chairs lack backs and force you to practice active sitting.

Let’s discuss the pros and cons of a kneeling chair in greater detail.

2. Kneeling Chair Benefits

2.1. Pelvic Tilt Encourages Spinal Health

A more open angle at the waist and a slightly forward tilt to the pelvis (without twisting the pelvis to either side) puts the spine in better alignment with the rest of your body. Your spine can straighten, and all weight from your upper body is vertical, letting your muscles and tendons balance themselves out as they naturally would if you were standing. A kneeling posture like this is second only to standing in terms of spinal health.

2.2. Open Waist Encourages Gut Health

When your waist is open at a 135-degree angle (rather than closed at a 90-degree angle) everything in your gut is freer to act. In particular, this helps prevent digestive and bowel issues, as well as circulation issues throughout your internal organs.

You’re also giving your lungs more room to expand, so you can breathe more easily.

2.3. Unsupported Sitting Improves Core Strength

When you’re sitting in a chair that has no back, your back and torso are forced to balance themselves. If you’re used to sitting or leaning in a traditional office chair, this can be painful at first, but you’ll eventually get used to it.

Once you’re used to it, you’ll find that your body is constantly in motion, balancing your torso through micro-adjustments in your back muscles. This constant tension and adjustment strengthens your core and helps alleviate back pain.

2.4. Hip Alignment Prevents Spinal Compression

One of the most dangerous issues with a standard office chair, and one of the most common workplace injuries, is spinal issues caused by compression. Any bad posture while sitting can lead to a spine that’s out of alignment, and that lack of alignment can cause spinal compression. Discs and vertebrae are put under tension, and that tension can cause discs to wear or even herniate, leading to back pain that can even require surgery to correct.

2.5. Better Circulation Promotes Healing

In a standard office chair, several points of contact (such as your glutes, the backs of your knees, and the base of your spine) can all restrict or cut off circulation to different parts of your body.

While you’ll never fully cut off blood flow, restricted blood flow can lead to aches and pains, and it can reduce bodily healing, as your blood has a harder time ferrying nutrients to sore muscles. Thus, a kneeling chair, which removes those pressure points, can promote healing and reduce pain.

2.6. Foldable for Storage

Some kneeling chair designs, though not all of them, can be folded up easily and stored in an out of the way place when you’re not using them. They’re much smaller and more easily shuffled than a typical office chair, and you can fit more of them in a given space, particularly if you need to move them so you can shuffle around other furniture.

3. Cons of Kneeling Chairs

3.1. Elaborated

Now let’s talk about the downsides to using a kneeling chair. There are a few, which makes kneeling chairs a choice, rather than an obligation. They aren’t perfect, otherwise, everyone would be using them by now.

3.2. Restricted Movement

You don’t have your feet clear on the floor to move your chair around, and when you’re positioned on a kneeling chair, you aren’t able to casually adjust yourself as easily as you can with other kinds of chairs.

3.3. Hurt Shins

One of the biggest issues of a kneeling chair is the pressure they put on the front of your legs. Your knees themselves might not have much pressure put on them, but a good portion of your weight is put on your shins, particularly your upper shins. This part of your body is not used to weight or constant pressure, and it can ache over time. This can be exacerbated if you wear jeans or pants with a seam on the shins or a texture that hurts the kin. Additionally, some people might find they develop rashes or even pressure ulcers through extended use of these chairs.

3.4. Restricted Circulation

There are blood vessels that run through the front of your legs, and the cushion of the kneeling pad on your chair can cut off that blood flow. The seat can also cut off blood flow from the backs of your thighs, depending on how the seat pan is designed. This, together, can restrict blood flow as much if not more than sitting in a poorly designed traditional office chair. A well-designed office chair with a tilted seat pan alleviates most of this issue entirely, but you can’t get that in a kneeling chair.

3.5. Difficulty Entering and Leaving

Unlike a traditional chair, where you simply need to sit down, a kneeling chair requires you to climb into it and position yourself properly. This isn’t as simple of a process as you might want it to be, and a poorly-designed kneeling chair makes it even harder with a center post. It’s a lot harder to simply get up and take a break occasionally, and if you’re getting up and sitting down a lot throughout your day, you waste a lot of time with a kneeling chair.

3.6. Worse for Larger People

Kneeling chairs suffer from a fixed design with a fairly minimal range of adjustments. In particular, they are very poor for people who are larger than average. We don’t mean just weight here, either. People who weigh more than average or who are obese will have a harder time finding a comfortable position.

People who are taller than average will also find that a kneeling chair is poorly designed, with less room for their legs in particular. It’s also worth mentioning that people who are shorter than average will also likely have a difficult time, for similar reasons, though these chairs are often more adjustable for shorter people than for taller people.

3.7. Low Weight Capacity

Most commonly-recommended kneeling chairs have a relatively low weight capacity. Most of them top out around 200-250 lbs. If you’re larger than that – and many people are – you can bend or break a frame with the pressure you put on a kneeling chair.

4. Should You Use a Kneeling Chair?

So, given all of the pros and cons of kneeling chairs, should you consider using it rather than a traditional office chair?

Our verdict: probably not. A kneeling chair has a few benefits, but most of those benefits can be found in other ways. A saddle chair brings most of the same benefits but without the potential knee and leg pain. An ergonomically-designed office chair with plenty of flexibility offers a wider range of movement, though you don’t get the core-strengthening micro-adjustments if you have a chair back to lean against. And, of course, simply standing at a standing desk (with an appropriate anti-fatigue mat in place) is better than any form of sitting.

5. How to Sit On a Kneeling Chair

If you want to use a kneeling chair, we have one solid recommendation: use it periodically rather than as a total replacement for your office chair.

Set up a schedule throughout your day. Every hour or two, switch how you’re sitting. A kneeling chair can be added into your rotation, and you can spend an hour sitting in a traditional office chair, an hour standing at a standing desk with an anti-fatigue mat, and an hour sitting in a kneeling chair, before transitioning back to your standard office chair.

In between each session or rotation, spend some time walking around, stretching, or getting in some light exercise. A quick jog around the building, a brisk walk through the office, or even just a few stretches in your cubicle can make a huge difference in your level of fitness and your pain levels throughout the day.

Combining these strategies gives you much more flexibility. You’re able to take your health into your own hands, keep yourself mobile and healthy throughout the day, and alleviate the majority of the issues you experience in day to day life.

Perhaps the best recommendation we can make towards maintaining a healthy life at work is to focus on your health outside of work. Eating healthier, working out, lifting weights, and stretching can all have a valuable impact on your overall health. Back pain, even back injuries, can be mitigated or even healed through physical therapy and weight lifting. A stronger core helps prevent sitting from injuring you, and the activity helps you with wound healing and lower stress levels.

6. Buying Guide for Kneeling Chairs

• Adjustability: Look for a chair that allows you to adjust the height and angle of both the seat and knee rest to suit your comfort.
• Comfort: Test the chair before purchasing to ensure it provides adequate support and comfort for your body.
• Build Quality: Choose a chair with sturdy construction and durable materials for long-term use.
• Padding: Consider the padding on the seat and knee rest for added comfort during extended use.
• Usage Guidelines: Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for usage and make sure to incorporate breaks and movement into your routine.

Remember, individual preferences and comfort levels vary, so it's advisable to try out a kneeling chair before making a purchase if possible.

7. FAQs

7.1. What is a kneeling chair?

A kneeling chair is a type of chair designed to promote good posture and reduce the strain on the lower back. It typically has a forward-sloping seat and a knee rest that supports the user's body weight.

7.2. Are kneeling chairs good for you?

Kneeling chairs are designed to encourage an open hip angle and maintain the natural curve of the spine, which can promote better posture. Many users find them helpful for reducing lower back pain and improving overall comfort.

7.3. Are kneeling chairs bad for your knees?

When used correctly, kneeling chairs are not generally bad for your knees. However, it's important to adjust the chair properly to avoid unnecessary pressure on the knees. If you have pre-existing knee issues, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before using a kneeling chair.

7.4. Are kneeling chairs good for your back?

Kneeling chairs are designed to distribute body weight more evenly, which can alleviate pressure on the lower back. They are often considered beneficial for maintaining a more natural and ergonomic sitting posture.

7.5. Are kneeling chairs good for sciatica?

Some individuals with sciatica find relief when using kneeling chairs because they promote a more neutral spine position. However, individual experiences may vary, and it's recommended to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice.

7.6. How long can you sit in a kneeling chair?

The duration one can sit in a kneeling chair varies from person to person. It's generally recommended to take breaks and change positions regularly to prevent stiffness or discomfort. Listen to your body and avoid prolonged periods of sitting without movement.

7.7. Can you use a kneeling chair all day?

Using a kneeling chair all day is not recommended. Like any sitting position, it's essential to vary your posture throughout the day. Alternate between sitting, standing, and moving to promote overall health and reduce the risk of discomfort or strain.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, of course, there are as many different possible lifestyles as there are people to live them. If a kneeling chair fits in with your intended lifestyle, is comfortable for you to use, and doesn’t get disruptive throughout the day, then there’s no reason you shouldn’t use it. The same goes for a saddle chair, a stool, a yoga ball chair, or a standing desk. All of these are options that exist for a reason, and you’re perfectly capable of making the decision to use the one or the combination that is best for you.