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Massage chairs, kneeling chairs, and balance ball chairs are great alternative office chairs that are ideal for people with hypermobility.
Office Chairs for hypermobility come in a range of styles. Unfortunately, there’s not one style of chair that’s suitable for everyone with hypermobility.
If you’re one of the 20.8% of people with hypermobility who experience chronic neck or back pain, then you’ll likely need an ergonomic office chair for hypermobility. But if you’re anything like me and constantly have to shift around, you’re going to need a variety of chairs to see you through the working day.
So, let’s take a look at the best alternative chairs for hypermobility and how they can help your joints.
Kneeling Chair
What is a Kneeling Chair?
A kneeling chair is a unique piece of furniture designed to promote a more ergonomic and comfortable way of sitting. It looks a bit like a traditional chair. But, instead of a flat seat, it has two padded cushions – one for your bottom and another for your knees. The design encourages you to sit in a slightly tilted position, with your hips pushed forward and your knees resting on the lower cushion.
How Does It Work?
A kneeling chair forces your spine to form a natural S-shape. Meanwhile, your body weight is distributed more evenly between your buttocks and shins. This alignment helps reduce the strain on your lower back and promotes better posture.
Why Hypermobile Individuals Love It:
Hypermobile joints often cause discomfort and pain, especially when sitting for extended periods. But a kneeling chair can be a game-changer:
- Improved Posture: Do you struggle with posture? The kneeling chair encourages you to sit with your pelvis tilted forward and your spine in a more neutral position. This helps reduce the risk of slouching, which can exacerbate discomfort.
- Less Pressure on Joints: Traditional chairs can put pressure on the hips, knees, and lower back, causing discomfort for hypermobile individuals. Kneeling chairs distribute your body weight more evenly. Therefore, there’s less strain on these joints, so sitting is more comfortable.
- Engages Core Muscles: Using a kneeling chair makes you engage your core muscles to maintain balance. This gentle workout can help stabilize the pelvis and reduce the risk of joint hyperextension.
- Increased Mobility: Some kneeling chairs come with wheels, so it’s easy to move around your workspace. This can be beneficial if you need to change positions frequently to prevent stiffness or discomfort.
- Fun Factor: Kneeling chairs come in various designs and colors. Choosing one that matches your style and personality can add a touch of fun to your workspace or home.
Balance Ball Chair
What is a Balance Ball Chair?
A balance ball chair is a seating solution that combines the benefits of an exercise ball with the comfort of a chair. It consists of a sturdy frame with a large exercise ball placed at its core, serving as the seat. These chairs are designed to promote better posture, strengthen your core, and provide a fun and dynamic sitting experience.
ENOVI Original Starfish Ball Chair. Click here to buy.
How Does It Work?
Instead of a traditional flat seat, you perch atop an exercise ball. This unstable surface requires you to engage your core muscles to maintain balance and stability. As a result, your posture improves and you strengthen your core muscles.
Why Hypermobile Individuals Love It:
Maintaining joint stability and comfort can be a daily challenge when you’re living with hypermobility. Here’s why a balance ball chair can be a fantastic addition:
- Enhanced Core Strength: Sitting on a balance ball chair requires constant engagement of your core muscles to stay balanced. This helps to strengthen your abdominal and lower back muscles, so your hypermobile joints get more support.
- Dynamic Sitting: Traditional chairs can lead to stagnant positions, causing discomfort over time. However, balance ball chairs encourage gentle, dynamic movement as you shift your weight and maintain balance. This can alleviate stiffness and reduce the risk of hyperextension.
- Improved Posture: Like the kneeling chair, balance ball chairs promote better posture by aligning your spine and preventing slouching. Maintaining proper posture can reduce strain on hypermobile joints.
- Fun Factor: Bouncing gently on a balance ball chair can be a lot of fun! It’s like having a mini workout while you work or study. You can even incorporate light bouncing exercises to break up your day and keep things lively.
- Versatility: Balance ball chairs can often be removed from their frames for use as standalone exercise balls. So, you could add it to the rest of your essential Pilates equipment. This versatility means you can engage in balance and strengthening exercises whenever you need to take a break from sitting.
Massage Chair
What is a Massage Chair?
A massage chair is like having a personal masseuse right in your living room! Personally, I find them to be one of the best office chairs for hypermobility.
It’s a chair designed with built-in mechanisms that mimic various massage techniques, such as kneading, rolling, tapping, and even shiatsu. These chairs are engineered to provide relaxation, relieve muscle tension, and promote overall well-being.
How Does It Work?
It’s simple! You sit back, relax, and let the chair’s mechanical magic take over. It uses rollers, airbags, and vibrators to target specific areas of your body, providing a soothing and invigorating massage experience.
Why Hypermobile Individuals Love It:
Here’s why a massage chair can be a delightful addition to you hypermobile lifestyle:
- Muscle Relaxation: Is muscle tension a problem for you? If so, a massage chair can provide deep relaxation by kneading away knots and soothing tense muscles.
- Pain Relief: Hypermobile joints can be prone to pain and discomfort. The therapeutic benefits of a massage chair can help alleviate joint pain and promote a sense of relief.
- Improved Circulation: Many massage chairs include features that stimulate blood flow and circulation. This can be particularly beneficial for hypermobility as it may help reduce swelling and improve overall joint health.
- Customization: Most massage chairs offer a variety of massage programs and intensity levels. Therefore, you can tailor your massage experience to focus on specific areas or adjust the pressure to your comfort level.
- Stress Reduction: Living with hypermobility can be stressful. A massage chair can provide a serene oasis, allowing users to relax, de-stress, and escape the challenges of daily life.
- Educational Fun: Many modern massage chairs come with high-tech features, such as touchscreen controls and app connectivity. Learning to use these features can be a fun and educational experience. Plus, you can customize your massage settings to your liking.
Beanbag Chair
What is a Beanbag Chair?
A beanbag chair is a comfortable, versatile, and whimsical chair that’s suitable for hypermobility. It’s typically made from a soft, flexible outer cover filled with small, bean-like pellets, which give it its name. Beanbag chairs come in various sizes, shapes, and colors, and they’re known for their plush, moldable comfort.
Homguava Giant Bean Bag Chair. Click here to buy now.
How Does It Work?
You simply sink into its soft, cushiony embrace. Another key feature is that the chair molds to your body shape, providing a cozy and relaxed seating experience. There’s no specific way to sit in a beanbag chair; you can lounge, curl up, or even lay flat—it’s all about personal comfort.
Why Hypermobile Individuals Love It:
Here’s why a beanbag chair can be a delightful addition to your seating choices:
- Adaptive Comfort: Beanbag chairs conform to your body shape, offering support where you need it most. Hypermobile individuals can adjust the chair’s shape to their liking, creating a custom, comfortable seating experience.
- Joint-Friendly: Beanbag chairs are gentle on the joints because they lack rigid, hard surfaces. This can be especially beneficial for hypermobile individuals who find traditional chairs or sofas uncomfortable.
- Relaxation and Stress Relief: Increased muscle tension and discomfort are common with hypermobility. The softness and coziness of a beanbag chair can provide a sense of relaxation and stress relief.
- Versatility: Beanbag chairs are incredibly versatile. You can use them for reading, watching TV, gaming, or even as a temporary workspace. Therefore, their adaptability allows for a wide range of activities.
- Fun Factor: Beanbag chairs come in a multitude of colors and designs, making them a playful addition to any room. You can express your personality and style while enjoying a comfy seat.
All-in-one Work Station
What is an All-in-One Workstation?
If money were no option, I think it’s fair to say that we’d all choose an all-in-one workstation with a built-in office chair for your hypermobile needs. Zero Gravity Workstations from ErgoQuest are particularly a good choice. Despite being costly, an all-in-one workstation is a comprehensive and integrated solution designed to optimize productivity and comfort in a workspace that you must consider.
It typically combines a chair, desk, monitor stand, keyboard tray, storage, and cable management into a single, cohesive unit. These workstations are engineered to enhance organization, ergonomics, and efficiency.
How Does It Work?
Imagine sitting at an all-in-one workstation: You’re sitting in an extra comfortable chair, you recline back and you have everything you need within arm’s reach. The monitor is at eye level, the keyboard is comfortably positioned, and storage compartments keep your workspace tidy. It’s like a command center for your work or study tasks.
Why Hypermobile Individuals Love It:
Here’s how an all-in-one workstation can be a game-changer for them:
- Ergonomic Design: All-in-one workstations are designed with ergonomics in mind. Adjustable components like monitor height and keyboard tray position can help hypermobile individuals find a comfortable and supportive setup that minimizes strain on their joints.
- Efficient Organization: Hypermobile individuals may need to make frequent adjustments or accommodate assistive devices. The built-in storage and cable management of an all-in-one workstation keep the workspace clutter-free and easy to customize.
- Heightened comfort: You can work sitting up or laying back as the chair reclines and the monitors can be raised above your head. You could even take an afternoon nap in it!
- Accessibility: These workstations have accessibility in mind. As a result, features like height adjustability and easy-to-reach storage compartments ensure you can work comfortably without straining or overextending.
Alternative Office Chairs For Hypermobility will help you to manage your joint pain better. You may even find that it’s easier to do your job when you have a variety of seating options to choose from. So, fi you’re currently stuck with just one office chair, add another one today.
