Ergonomic chairs promote good health

Many people, at least in developing countries, do most of their work today while seated. This is very different from say 100 years ago, when the industrial era was still at its peak. While society can develop this quickly, the human body, in contrast, is much slower to evolve, and remains ill-suited to today's sedentary lifestyle.

Many people who spend a lot of time sitting in the conventional way, with their legs at a 90o angle to their upper body, often start to experience adverse symptoms at some point. Symptoms can include back problems, reduced circulation, fatigue, knee problems, and poor oxygen intake.

A conventional chair forces people to sit in an unnatural position, which can cause back problems and many other health issues. A saddle chair promotes better posture, helping to stimulate the back muscles and improve circulation in the legs. People experience less stiffness in their back and shoulders, and feel less tired and more energetic.

Designed for the back

The increasing prevalence of these health issues prompted Salli Systems to develop a comfortable, 'back-friendly' chair.

The project, which started in 1989, involved physiologists, ergonomics experts, and health care professionals. Extensive testing was done at all stages of development.

The result was the 'saddle chair', an unconventional design that is specifically designed for long-term use and for healthy sitting. Today's Salli range includes a number of saddle chairs, with versions specially designed for children, as well as complementary desks and tables.

The seat base is made of 3-mm steel, which is covered with flexible foam pad ding and a leather cover. Three different gas suspension units are available for people of different height. The base is produced in padeither aluminium or plastic, with four or five staves.

When sitting on a saddle chair, the angle between the legs and upper body is much larger than with a conventional chair, and the upper legs slope downwards. This tends to turn the hips forwards and curve the lower back into an anatomically advantageous position. This, in turn, serves to straighten the upper back, leading to improved back posture and radically reduced tension in the muscles and spine.

The larger angle between the upper and lower legs intrinsic to the Salli concept, combined with the more active use of the legs that it encourages, helps boost people's metabolism. The fact that there is no hard edge to press against the upper legs means that the buttocks and leg muscles are not flattened as with a conventional chair, which helps promote better circulation in the legs.

Positive health benefits

Sitting in a saddle chair activates the back in a natural, healthy way, stimulates circulation in the legs, and activates breathing. It is also easier to move around in a saddle chair than in a conventional chair.

Saddle chair users generally notice that their posture starts to improve gradually, back and shoulder pain and muscle tension disappear, and they feel less tired during the day. Some people have even reported that using a saddle chair can help diabetes sufferers, as better circulation in the lower extremities has a positive impact on their condition. New saddle chair users normally need to raise the level of their desk or other work surface, as the sitting position in a saddle chair is slightly higher than that of a conventional chair. Elevated or standing work positions can also be used. This is particularly useful in environments such as industrial plants, and customer service points at airports or in banks. Surgeons, dentists, and others who tend to work standing up can also work comfortably using a saddle chair.

This table is specially designed for use with saddle chairs. Electronic height adjustment and ergonomic armrests make it easy to find the ideal working position.