Saddle chair

The saddle chair is a chair that resembles a light riding saddle. The seat height is 20-30 cm higher than in a conventional chair, hence the saddle chair is mostly used in connection with a height adjustable table. A saddle chair is normally equipped with a gas pressure spring and roles.

The saddle chair is used by dentists, physiotherapists, opticians, hairdressers and office workers and other professionals who sit a lot at work and have to move simultaneously.

Development

Since the 1980s, various saddle chairs were developed. Is a pioneer among other things, the Finn Jussi Jalkanen Veli- with the Salli Saddle Chair. Since then, more and more designers and companies try their hand at different saddle seat variations.

Scientific review

In a conventional chair is back and thighs and upper and lower legs are normally at a 90- degree angle, whereas the saddle chair makes an angle of about 135 degrees. The German orthopedist Hannes Schoberth demonstrated with x-rays already in 1962 that the hip joint can bend only about 60 degrees. Accordingly, an angle of 90 degrees is achieved only in the hip joint by the pelvis leaning backwards. However, the seat back at a normal chair forced back to an upright position, and thus the lordosis and kyphosis of the spine will be straightened.

In a study in 2006 was shown by means of magnetic resonance imaging recordings that today recommended hip angle of 90 degrees leads to unnatural stresses in the intervertebral discs and is therefore not recommended.

Are to impact while sitting and working in front of only small controlled studies with small sample sizes, showed mixed results. In a study with four people came through the saddle chair manufacturer Bambach less pain in the lower back area on, but greater discomfort in the legs, hips and buttocks. Impact on job performance could not be determined at the Bambach Saddle Chair. Another study could not identify any significant differences between the saddle and normal chairs at about 100 school children.