I Used a Kneeling Chair for a Week & Here's What Happened

We had a kneeling chair delivered to the ChairOffice HQ a few months ago (as a new product sample), and we all had great fun testing it out and figuring out how it worked.

However, once the novelty wore off (and the boss suggested we all get back to work) we all retired to our traditional office chairs, and the kneeling chair was left in the corner, only to be used as a foot support when one of our team broke his leg.

Spurred on by the increasingly-mentioned health implications of prolonged sitting, I decided to switch my office chair for the (now slightly dusty) kneeling chair, and see what happened if I used it every day for a week.

A Brief History of the Kneeling Chair

A scientific study published in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information found that lumbar curvature on an ergonomically designed kneeling chair is definitely superior to a standard computer chair:

The study suggests that ergonomically designed kneeling chairs set at +20 degrees inclination to maintain standing lumbar curvature to a greater extent than sitting on a standard computer chair with an overall mean difference of 7.633 degrees.

Armed with all the information anyone would possibly need on kneeling chairs, I started my week…

My Week with a Kneeling Chair

My initial transition to the kneeling chair went down relatively well(apart from a few odd looks from my co-workers), I felt perfectly comfortable and supported, and felt no immediate difference comfort-wise from my normal office chair.

However, mid-way into the first day, I did find myself struggling slightly with the adjustment. The kneeling chair naturally forces you to sit up, and after a while I found myself missing the back of my chair, which I usually rely on to hold me up when the morning coffee starts wearing off.

In fact, the kneeling chair really opened my eyes as to how poor my ‘relaxed’posture really is. Towards the end of the first day I was acutely aware of muscles that I normally never think about (abs, thighs, lower back).

Another quick search in Google gave me an answer as to why:

Traditional chairs provide your back with complete support, which means your core muscles really aren't doing a whole lot of work. This is one of the main causes of poor posture. After a while, your back starts hunching over your keyboard. The lack of back support on a kneeling chair forces your core muscles to get to work and keeps them engaged throughout the day. After consistent use, you will notice a great improvement in your core strength and improved muscle tone.

Apparently, my previous chair didn't require my body to do actively hold itself up, and the fact that I could feel a twinge in my muscles proved that they had been ‘active’ throughout that day.

As the week progressed, I adjusted to the kneeling chair and found it to be a comfortable and engaging office solution. The position the kneeling chair made me sit in actually made me feel much more engaged with my work – I felt ‘awake’ and more focused than I normally do (don’t tell my boss!). 

Any initial discomfort was caused simply by the initial swap, and as I grew more accustomed to the kneeling chair I felt much more comfortable. I did sometimes catch myself enviously glancing at my colleagues in their high-backed chairs, but realised that they were all slouching or hunched over their desks – and I wasn't!

The verdict?

I'm a fan. I actually still continue to use the kneeling chair, although I admit I tend to swap back to my old chair some afternoons. What can I say? Sometimes I WANT to slouch!

If you’re thinking of trying an alternative seating solution, I would recommend trying a kneeling chair.

For a complete run-down of our kneeling chair range, read our Best Kneeling Chairs 2024 to Promote Better Posture guide.

Update On Using a Kneeling Chair

Working from home has become a more permanent fixture for many of us, and as a result, our living spaces have often had to double up as makeshift offices. Given the amount of time we now spend at home working, it’s more important than ever to have a comfortable and supportive office setup.

While I’ve previously enjoyed using a kneeling chair, I eventually sought something with greater flexibility to better suit my evolving needs. I decided to incorporate an electric standing desk alongside an ergonomic office chair/kneeling chair. This combination has proven to be incredibly effective, allowing me to easily alternate between sitting and standing at the press of a button.

The benefits I’ve experienced with this setup have been significant. Standing for just 2-3 hours during my workday has led to noticeable improvements in my productivity, energy levels, and posture. In fact, I was so impressed that I went on to write an article about the many benefits of standing desks and consulted with our product experts on the best standing desks for 2024.

This arrangement has been so beneficial that I’m eager to continue using a standing desk even when returning to a more traditional office environment. The advantages are clear, and I’ll certainly be recommending this setup to others looking to improve their workspace.

The Benefits of Kneeling Chairs

Back Pain Relief - The kneeling chair reduces lower back pain by distributing the body's weight more evenly.

Improve Your Posture - Even ergonomic office chairs make it difficult and laborious to maintain a neutral and healthy spine position.

Core Muscle Development - Traditional chairs provide your back with complete support, which means your core muscles really aren't doing a whole lot of work. This is one of the main causes of poor posture. After a while, your back starts hunching over your keyboard. The lack of back support on a kneeling chair forces your core muscles to get to work and keeps them engaged throughout the day. After consistent use,you will notice great improvement in your core strength and improved muscle tone.

Comfort - One of the biggest misconceptions that people have about kneeling chairs is that it causes discomfort in the knees. Despite its name, kneeling chairs actually divide the weight between your spine, thighs and your shins.

Increased Concentration - Poor posture eventually leads to fatigue, discomfort and loss of productivity. By keeping the spine properly aligned, comfort and concentration are greatly increased.

If you would like to buy a kneeling chair, then head over to our little range of kneeling chairs where you can even buy the wooden one we had in the office.