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I always wondered whether a chair that would put you into an almost lying position would be best for your health - I believe you could easily fight sleepiness,

by jotm 13y ago

I always wondered whether a chair that would put you into an almost lying position would be best for your health - I believe you could easily fight sleepiness, while the reduced load on your back and knees would make it possible to work very long hours with minimal health effects... Kind of like the Emperor 1510 - maybe we could team up to develop something like this :-)

Cthulhu_ 13y ago
I think I read some people's experiences with a chair like the Emperor; what they were basically saying is that it gets very uncomfortable over time, no matter how comfy the chair is. It's a fallacy to state that the most relaxed or supported position is good for you. Better to sit or stand in an active position - like what this chair is trying to do.
- derekp7 13y ago
  Reminds me of the theory with bicycle saddles. The gel ones are good for short rides, but if you want something for the long haul you are better off with a good leather saddle that properly supports your sit-bones.
pedalpete 13y ago
Being prone for an extended period of time isn't good either. The problem is that your musculature does some of the work to keep everything aligned. If you're not using the muscles in your back and hips to keep you somewhat upright (which even a regular chair does to some extend), then you are letting those muscles atrophy even more. You don't want to be completely cradled for extended periods of time.
- jotm 13y ago
  Interesting - what if you combined it with regular exercise? Right now I'm sitting and my upper body is supported only by the lower back (arms on the armrests, hands on the keyboard tray). It's comfortable, except my back starts to hurt after sitting for hours at end (so I stretch/exercise once in a while). Which is why I believe a lying position would be more comfortable...
  - pedalpete 13y ago
    You should be doing regular exercise anyway, but I think the greatest damage in lying all day is done to the small support muscles. These muscles (like your abs) are design for a constant level of moderate engagement, like walking, and sitting does engage these muscles to a moderate degree, particularly if you are sitting 'properly'. As a comparison, I'm thinking of the difference between slouching in a chair vs. sitting up. If we mapped these on a scale of what is best for you, I'd say that lying down is probably better than slouching, but sitting up is going to be best. These are just my thoughts, I'm not a doctor or physiotherapist.

by jotm 13y ago

Cthulhu_ 13y ago

I think I read some people's experiences with a chair like the Emperor; what they were basically saying is that it gets very uncomfortable over time, no matter how comfy the chair is. It's a fallacy to state that the most relaxed or supported position is good for you. Better to sit or stand in an active position - like what this chair is trying to do.

derekp7 13y ago
Reminds me of the theory with bicycle saddles. The gel ones are good for short rides, but if you want something for the long haul you are better off with a good leather saddle that properly supports your sit-bones.

pedalpete 13y ago

Being prone for an extended period of time isn't good either. The problem is that your musculature does some of the work to keep everything aligned. If you're not using the muscles in your back and hips to keep you somewhat upright (which even a regular chair does to some extend), then you are letting those muscles atrophy even more. You don't want to be completely cradled for extended periods of time.

jotm 13y ago
Interesting - what if you combined it with regular exercise? Right now I'm sitting and my upper body is supported only by the lower back (arms on the armrests, hands on the keyboard tray). It's comfortable, except my back starts to hurt after sitting for hours at end (so I stretch/exercise once in a while). Which is why I believe a lying position would be more comfortable...
- pedalpete 13y ago
  You should be doing regular exercise anyway, but I think the greatest damage in lying all day is done to the small support muscles. These muscles (like your abs) are design for a constant level of moderate engagement, like walking, and sitting does engage these muscles to a moderate degree, particularly if you are sitting 'properly'. As a comparison, I'm thinking of the difference between slouching in a chair vs. sitting up. If we mapped these on a scale of what is best for you, I'd say that lying down is probably better than slouching, but sitting up is going to be best. These are just my thoughts, I'm not a doctor or physiotherapist.