I use a big inflated ball that sits on a base with coasters. I've seen some with back support, but mine doesn't. It forces you to keep some weight on your legs, like the perching mentioned in the article. But it has an additional benefit: you can't help but bounce a little bit. You're body's not designed to remain static for long. Overall, I feel less lethargic and less prone to neck and shoulder pain.
Most people have weak core muscles due to chairs with backs, so if you're going to try out this kind of chair, don't be surprised if you can't do it for more than an hour a day at first. Also, it may not be a good idea if you're tall, since the ball can only inflate so much. If the angle between your upper legs and your body isn't greater than 90 degrees it probably won't work for you.
I still have a normal chair. If you're working crazy hours, you need to give your supporting muscles a break sometimes.
Oh, and it's really cheap: mine was about $60 if I convert from my local currency.
"here's an example, but don't buy it online if you haven't tried it:"
That's my problem with all these chair discussions. I don't have a problem buying a chair that works great, or a chair that doesn't "look like a chair" (as the article mentions), but I do have a problem dropping $800 on a chair sight unseen.
I'd have that problem no matter what, but being 6 foot 4 inches (aka "99th percentile height", or at least I've seen one source place that as the 99th percentile cutoff) really doesn't help. The probability of spending $800 on a chair that simply doesn't go high enough is too large. But I have no idea how to try a wide variety of chairs out for any reasonable period of time.
A ball chair is not an exercise ball chair. Looking at the illustration on Wikipedia, it's clear that a ball chair forces a C-shaped spine. Your spine will stay in an S-shape if you sit upright on the "chair" I'm referring to.
Seeing as that design is never mentioned in respects to ergonomics and certainly wouldn't "bounce" anything, I strongly suspect the quoted passage was referring to the inflated balls you sit on.
You're right. That's one of the disadvantages of linking to the printer friendly version of an article. You miss out on those "link" things that made this "interweb" thing famous:
I'm just going to continue as usual, using the ball chair and alternating with a normal chair if needed. My spine feels great and definitely has a more natural shape when sitting on the ball vs. a normal chair.
Comments
I use a big inflated ball that sits on a base with coasters. I've seen some with back support, but mine doesn't. It forces you to keep some weight on your legs, like the perching mentioned in the article. But it has an additional benefit: you can't help but bounce a little bit. You're body's not designed to remain static for long. Overall, I feel less lethargic and less prone to neck and shoulder pain.
Most people have weak core muscles due to chairs with backs, so if you're going to try out this kind of chair, don't be surprised if you can't do it for more than an hour a day at first. Also, it may not be a good idea if you're tall, since the ball can only inflate so much. If the angle between your upper legs and your body isn't greater than 90 degrees it probably won't work for you.
I still have a normal chair. If you're working crazy hours, you need to give your supporting muscles a break sometimes.
Oh, and it's really cheap: mine was about $60 if I convert from my local currency.
EDIT: here's an example, but don't buy it online if you haven't tried it: http://www.opentip.com/Sporting-Goods/Dynaflex-Fit-Chair-p-1...
"here's an example, but don't buy it online if you haven't tried it:"
That's my problem with all these chair discussions. I don't have a problem buying a chair that works great, or a chair that doesn't "look like a chair" (as the article mentions), but I do have a problem dropping $800 on a chair sight unseen.
I'd have that problem no matter what, but being 6 foot 4 inches (aka "99th percentile height", or at least I've seen one source place that as the 99th percentile cutoff) really doesn't help. The probability of spending $800 on a chair that simply doesn't go high enough is too large. But I have no idea how to try a wide variety of chairs out for any reasonable period of time.
"Standing desks and chaise longues are good options. Ball chairs, which bounce your spine into a C-shape, are not."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_Chair
A ball chair is not an exercise ball chair. Looking at the illustration on Wikipedia, it's clear that a ball chair forces a C-shaped spine. Your spine will stay in an S-shape if you sit upright on the "chair" I'm referring to.
Seeing as that design is never mentioned in respects to ergonomics and certainly wouldn't "bounce" anything, I strongly suspect the quoted passage was referring to the inflated balls you sit on.
You're right. That's one of the disadvantages of linking to the printer friendly version of an article. You miss out on those "link" things that made this "interweb" thing famous:
http://images.businessweek.com/mz/10/19/0509_chairs.pdf
I'm just going to continue as usual, using the ball chair and alternating with a normal chair if needed. My spine feels great and definitely has a more natural shape when sitting on the ball vs. a normal chair.