What is the Best Chair for Sciatica?

Sitting down on a conventional chair can be torturous for people suffering from sciatica.  Keep reading to learn about an amazing ergonomic solution to this chronic pain issue.

What is Sciatica?

For those of you who do not know, the sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body, running from the pelvis to the feet. Sciatica is a painful condition caused by the irritation or compression of this nerve, most commonly because of a lumbar slipped disc.

Besides the constant pain, numbness, and tingling in the buttocks and leg of the affected side, people suffering from this condition truly face a nightmare every time they have to sit. Using ergonomic chairs can therefore make a big difference.

What is a Kneeling Chair?

Unlike conventional chairs, where the spine is perpendicular to the floor, sitting on a kneeling chair maintains a 135 degrees angle between your spine and your thighs. This ‘kneeling posture’ is also called an open-angled posture.

Kneeling chairs (also known as ergonomic knee stools) are considered the best chair for sciatica because of the following reasons:

  1. When sitting on a kneeling chair, you not only support your upper body on your buttocks, but also take support from your leg below the knees. This increases the surface area in contact with the chair and reduces the pressure on your back and legs while sitting, thus relieving pressure on the sciatic nerve.
  2. Research has shown that having an open-angled posture while sitting greatly reduces the pressure on your lumbar spine, thighs and buttocks as compared to while sitting on conventional chairs. This is of main importance to people suffering from sciatica because the course of the sciatic nerve is along these anatomic parts of the human body.
  3. They improve blood circulation to your lower limbs, an area that is typically aversely affected in cases of sciatica.

Kneeling Chair Precautions

  1. It takes a while to get used to the new sitting posture, so approach patiently.
  2. It is a little time consuming to get in and out of the chair.
  3. Sitting on a kneeling chair for prolonged periods of time can affect your knees in the long run if precautions are not taken. It is always best to stretch your muscles every hour.
  4. These chairs only allow movement in the forward direction, so make sure you have everything in place, and within your reach, before you sit down.

Where to Buy a Kneeling Chair

As with everything in the market, it is always best to read reviews and top 5 lists before you buy one. And this is very important in the case of a kneeling chair because the sitting posture is so new that it can be a little uncomfortable in the beginning. This makes sense because we have been using conventional chairs since birth.

Furthermore, there are chairs of different sizes and inclinations available in the market, and you have to try them to figure out which one suits your needs and comfort best.

Additionally, since they are ergonomic chairs, they cost a little more than conventional chairs. So always compare prices before you make a purchase.

In the end, always remember that chronic lower back pain is a medical problem and needs proper medical treatment for its correction. So don’t forget to consult a physician regarding the same. But in the meantime using the best chair for sciatica can definitely make sitting down a lot easier and a lot less painful.

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