Chairs — everyone uses them, but did you know that some are healthier than others?
If you’re ready to remove the adverse effects of prolonged sitting and find a more health-focused approach, this article teaches you what makes a chair unhealthy and healthy and introduces you to the top 10 most healthy chairs.
- 1 What Makes a Chair Unhealthy?
- 2 What Makes a Chair Healthy?
- 3 Top 10 Most Healthy Chairs
- 4 Most Healthy Chairs: Active Sitting Chairs
- 5 Most Healthy Chairs: Zero Gravity Chairs
- 6 Most Healthy Chairs: Massage Chairs
- 7 Most Healthy Chairs Honorable Mention: Lift Chairs
- 8 Most Healthy Chairs Final Thoughts
What Makes a Chair Unhealthy?
More often than not, it’s not the type of a chair itself that's unhealthy, it’s prolonged sitting that’s the cause of negative health effects. According to the Washington Post article, “The Health Hazards of Sitting,” there are many negative health effects of sitting, including:
To read more about the negative impact of sitting as well as to see the full list of health-related problems it causes, read the full article here.
What Makes a Chair Healthy?
Sitting is something every person must do at some time or another, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to improve how you do it to reduce the negative impact. So what exactly makes a chair healthy?
There are three main characteristics:
Top 10 Most Healthy Chairs
There are three main types of healthy chairs: active sitting chairs, zero gravity chairs, and massage chairs.
Now that we’ve covered the types of most healthy chairs, let’s get into the model themselves.
Most Healthy Chairs: Active Sitting Chairs
Uncaged Ergonomics Wobble Stool
The Uncaged Ergonomic Wobble Stool has a rubberized curved base that allows you to wobble, swivel, and rock. The stool’s height is adjustable up to 33 inches, which makes it a great option for sitting or standing desks. It can be used as a standard stool, doesn’t require constant balancing, and stands upright when not in use. The seat is 13 inches in diameter and has plush padding for sitting comfort.
The idea behind the wobble stool is that it gives you the ability to stay active while sitting or standing at your desk. You can wobble back and forth, swivel 360 degrees, perch, or simply sit, giving your body and mind the stimulation they need to perform their best.
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Gaiam Balance Ball Chair
The Gaiam Balance Ball Chair takes the simplicity of an inflatable exercise ball and combines it with a functionality and stability of a standard chair. The Gaiam balance ball chair includes a 52-centimeter exercise ball and a stand that holds the ball in place. The stand has a backrest and caster wheels just like a standard rolling desk chair. The chair is designed for users from 5’ to 5’11” in height and has a weight capacity of 300 pounds.
The main benefit of the Gaiam ball chair is that it allows you to actively move and engage your muscles through bouncing and balancing. And with the added chair base, you don’t have to worry about the ball rolling from under you or losing your balance. Additionally, the chair is said to help relieve back pain by promoting proper posture and spinal alignment.
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BetterPosture Saddle Chair
The BetterPosture Saddle Chair has a saddle-shaped seat that allows the legs to hang naturally over the sides of the chair. This position reduces the pressure on the back of the thighs which is the culprit for poor leg circulation in standard chairs. The shape of the seat also promotes proper posture which can help strengthen the core muscles.
The angle of tilt on the saddle is adjustable, which allows the seat to be moved into the most comfortable position for the user and helps to keep the pelvis in a natural position with thighs and hips pivoted forward. The chair is designed to fit users up to 250 pounds and has five caster wheels for easy movement.
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Turnstone Buoy Stool
The Turnstone Buoy Stool has a wide cylindrical body and curved base. Like the Uncaged Ergonomic Wobble Stool, the Buoy Stool swivels and rocks allowing you to actively move in your seat. Resting, the stool sits at a 5-degree angle but can lean up to 12 degrees in any direction when in use. The stool height is adjustable up to 5 and a half inches and comes in a variety of colors to match your desk or office. The wide base makes the stool feel stable even when moving. And there are built-in handles that make the stool ultra portable and easy to carry.
The main benefits of the buoy stool are that it allows you to move — tilt, rock, etc. — while you sit. Its angled position makes it easy to find a comfortable position and promotes proper posture. And many users have reported that it’s helped alleviate their back pain.
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Core-Flex Active Sitting Ergonomic Executive Chair
The Core-Flex Active Sitting Executive Chairs looks like a standard office chair but packs some interesting active technology called Core-Flex. Rather than having a one-piece seat, it has a two-piece seat. The two pieces — one under each thigh — allow you to move each leg in an alternating pattern. So you can press one side of the seat down and while the other side of the seat raises.
The main health benefits of the Core-Flex Active Sitting Chair are that it allows you to replicate the movements (and benefits) of walking without leaving your seat. The alternating leg motion also helps alleviate the pressure on the thighs that can limit circulation or create sore glutes.
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Zenergy Ball Chair
The Zenergy Ball Chair incorporates the benefits of an exercise ball with the compact comfort of a stool. Inside the chair is a 17-inch anti-burst exercise ball that’s covered in durable fabric. The base of the chair has four legs with a powered-coated finish for durability and style and stationary glides for extra stability. Fully inflated, the chair is 23 inches tall.
The main health benefits of the Zenergy Ball chair are that it allows you to bounce and move in your seat, promoting better posture and engaging your muscles and mind. This particular style of active chair is a popular choice for children as it’s more stable than an exercise ball and comes in a variety of colors. For a more kid-friendly, smaller version of the Zenergy Ball chair, check out the Runtz Chair.
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SleekForm Ergonomic Kneeling Chair
Kneeling chairs were one of the first types of healthy chairs to be introduced. Rather than having a seat where your legs hang over the front, kneeling chairs have an additional padded shelf that cradles your legs, shifting your body’s weight from your lower back, hips and buttock to your knees and shins. The ergonomic angled design of the kneeling chair helps to relieve spinal compression and encourages proper posture. It also promotes better breathing by allowing your diagram to move more efficiently.
The Sleekform Ergonomic Kneeling Chair has double foam padding in the seat and under the knees for added comfort. The height of the chair can be adjusted between 21 and 28 inches and has a weight capacity of 250 pounds. The seat sits at a 90-degree angle to distribute the weight of your body to naturally help it come into alignment. There are four caster wheels on the base of the chair which make maneuvering it around the office easy.
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Most Healthy Chairs: Zero Gravity Chairs
Cozzia Dual Power ZG Recliner
The Cozzia Dual Power ZG Recliner holds your body in the neutral Zero Gravity position. It has dual reclining motors — one for the backrest and one for the leg rest — that allow you to independently adjust the upper and lower portions of the chair, giving you greater control over your position. There’s a one-touch Zero Gravity button that makes getting into the position quick and easy. The base is made of wood for a luxurious look. And the ZG recliner includes additional therapeutic features, including heat therapy and vibration massage.
The main health benefits of the ZG Recliner are that it positions your body such that your vertebrae can decompress which can help relieve pressure and back pain. It increases blood flow in the legs by elevating them above the heart. And helps to position the torso to expand lung capacity for deeper breathing. Plus, the heat therapy in the lumbar region helps to relieve pain and increase circulation, while vibration massage helps to soothe sore muscles.
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Most Healthy Chairs: Massage Chairs
Kahuna LM6800
The Kahuna LM6800 is an affordable massage chair that offers all of the most popular and therapeutic features users expect. It’s a full-body massage chair, which means it treats from the neck to the feet. It features an extended massage track called an L-Track that allows the rollers to move from the neck to the thighs. The extended track is great for users who suffer from sore glutes or sciatic nerve pain as it effectively massages the area.
The Kahuna LM6800 is equipped with airbags that massage the outer shoulders, hips, thighs, forearms, hands, calves and feet. The airbags inflate and deflate to compress each area to increase circulation and stimulate the muscles. There are five massage techniques and five automatic massage programs that use a combination of roller and air massage to provide a comprehensive full-body treatment. Perhaps the most popular program is called Yoga and it performs a full-body stretch by gripping the shoulders and feet with airbags while the chair reclines and inclines to pull the muscles.
The Kahuna LM6800 massage chair also features three Zero Gravity positions and heat therapy for the lower back and legs.
The main health benefits of the Kahuna LM6800 massage chair is that it performs muscular manipulation, which is the basis of the positive benefits of traditional massage therapy. As the muscles are manipulated, circulation is increased allowing new oxygen and nutrients to enter the area and the muscles are “warmed” and loosened which helps the body return to its natural alignment. Massage has also been shown to be an effective method for natural pain management as well as helps with stress and anxiety.
To learn more about the benefits of massage therapy, check out our full article. Or, to learn more about the Kahuna LM6800, you can read our full review here.
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Most Healthy Chairs Honorable Mention: Lift Chairs
Giantex Recliner Power Lift Chair
Lift chairs have a mechanical base that extends up and out to help users easily transition from sitting to standing without much effort. While lift chairs don’t actually promote any specific health benefits, they’re beneficial for those with limited mobility or who struggle with getting in and out of chairs such as the elderly or those with injuries.
The Giantex Recliner Power Lift Chair is padded for comfort and includes a remote control with easy-to-use up and down buttons. The chair reclines like a standard recliner and takes about 35 seconds to go from reclined to fully lifted. The movement from reclined to lift is slow, smooth, and quiet — ideal for older individuals.
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Most Healthy Chairs Final Thoughts
With more and more people seeking healthier solutions to everyday problems — including prolonged sitting — there’s no end in sight to the introduction of new and more health-focused options. So if you thought you were stuck dealing with the negative effects of prolonged sitting, you’re in luck. With the 10 most healthy chairs we’ve shown you today, you’re now equipped with the information you need to trade up to a healthier (and perhaps more fun) way to sit.