This Kneeling Desk Chair Saved My Lower Back, Knees, and Hips

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By Maya Cantina

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Since setting up the Variable Kneeling Chair (which took less than 15 minutes), I’ve been putting it to work while answering emails and Slack messages. FYI: The chair is pretty compact, measuring 20 inches tall, 28 inches long, and 19 inches wide, but the seat height isn’t adjustable, so it’s worth measuring your desk before ordering.

When I sit down, I notice that my core is immediately activated, due to the slight tilt of the seat. It doesn’t feel like a hardcore plank workout — just a slight tension that reminds me of sitting in an exercise ball. I also notice that my hips and knees feel very relaxed while I’m sitting in the chair. Because my weight is more evenly distributed, there’s a feeling of lightness that I never experienced while working at my desk.

At the same time, since holding this pose requires some balance, it almost feels like you’re in a very casual yoga pose all day. I also love that you can rock the chair slightly as the hours go by—a great feature for those who like to move throughout the day.

Over the weeks I’ve been sitting in the Variable Kneeling Chair, I’ve alternated between kneeling, putting both feet on the knee pads, and sitting on the seat with my feet on the floor. All three positions have definitely left me with less pain than my old school office chair. I’ve also noticed that my hips don’t get as tight when I’m out and about or taking a stretching class after work.

Another bonus? How easy it is to move this chair around. As someone who shares a small home office space with my partner, I often have to move it to our dining table or countertops when I need more space. Now, I always take my kneeling chair with me—I’ll never go back.

Conclusion

For $349, the Variable Kneeling Chair It definitely costs more than your average office chair. That said, people with knee, back, or hip pain (like me!) will find it a worthwhile investment. If we’re going to be sitting at our desks for eight hours every day, we might as well sit in something that won’t leave us with debilitating discomfort outside of work hours, right?

Anyone with similar lower body stiffness may benefit from alternating between a kneeling chair and a regular chair at first. That way, you can gradually get used to this new way of sitting. Personally, I’ll kneel in my chair until it falls apart—and even then, I can just tape it back together and still answer my emails.

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