A saddle chair uses the same principles in its design as an equestrian

saddle A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider of an animal, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is equestrian. However, specialized saddles have been created for oxen, camels and other animals. It is not know ...

. It is equipped with a

chair A chair is a type of seat, typically designed for one person and consisting of one or more legs, a flat or slightly angled seat and a back-rest. It may be made of wood, metal, or synthetic materials, and may be padded or upholstered in vario ...

base on casters and a gas cylinder for adjusting the correct sitting height. The casters enable moving around and reaching out for objects while sitting. Some saddle chairs have backrests, but most do not.

Riding-like sitting Riding-like sitting or balanced sitting includes a sitting posture that approaches the natural resting position. A forward-sloping seat encourages this natural posture, which is the same as when lying on the side while sleeping. The lumbar cur ...

on a saddle chair differs from sitting on a conventional

. Saddle chair users sit 20–30 cm higher, which puts the hips and the knees into a 135° angle, compared to the 90° angle typically associated with sitting on a traditional chair. Because the

chair is higher than a normal

office chair An office chair, or desk chair, is a type of chair that is designed for use at a desk in an office. It is usually a swivel chair, with a set of wheels for mobility and adjustable height. Modern office chairs typically use a single, distinctive ...

, the desk has to be higher as well. For this purpose there are desks that can be electronically or mechanically adjusted to fit the user. A saddle chair can also be used with a normal office desk, but then the desk has to be lifted up with height extension pieces. The saddle chair seat is either solid or divided. A divided seat reduces pressure on the

perineum The perineum (: perineums or perinea) in placentalia, placental mammals is the space between the anus and the genitals. The human perineum is between the anus and scrotum in the male or between the anus and vulva in the female. The perineum is ...

and lowers the temperature in the genital area. A divided seat is thought to be healthier, especially for men, than a solid seat. Some saddle chairs include not only height adjustments but also a tilt mechanism. There is also a divided saddle chair model on the market that has an adjustable gap between the two seat parts. Accessories, such as

elbow The elbow is the region between the upper arm and the forearm that surrounds the elbow joint. The elbow includes prominent landmarks such as the olecranon, the cubital fossa (also called the chelidon, or the elbow pit), and the lateral and t ...

and

wrist In human anatomy, the wrist is variously defined as (1) the carpus or carpal bones, the complex of eight bones forming the proximal skeletal segment of the hand; "The wrist contains eight bones, roughly aligned in two rows, known as the carpal ...

supports, are available for saddle chairs to make different work tasks easier.

Benefits and adjustments

A saddle chair can benefit men by decreasing the testicular temperature, and may help both men and women with lumbar support. ''

Bloomberg Businessweek ''Bloomberg Businessweek'', previously known as ''BusinessWeek'' (and before that ''Business Week'' and ''The Business Week''), is an American monthly business magazine published 12 times a year. The magazine debuted in New York City in Septembe ...

'' endorsed the saddle chair, noting while there is no medical evidence it helps increase sperm production, it "tips your pelvis and spine into the right position and un-squishes your genitals. Adapting to a saddle chair takes time and requires a new kind of attitude towards sitting. The most common reason for using a saddle chair is that the users feel it is healthier for the back and legs than a standard chair. An intervention study on schoolchildren found that initially saddle chairs were liked better, but the difference leveled off over time.

References

* Reijo Koskelo, Risto Pohjolainen, Osmo Hänninen: The function responses of upper secondary school students considering the saddle chair and the adjustable table. University of Kuopio. 1999–2000.

Benefits and adjustments

References

See also