Ask the expert

WE’VE ALL SPENT A LOT MORE TIME SITTING DOWN IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, BUT THE LATEST THINKING ON CHAIR DESIGN COULD HELP AVOID PAIN AND STIFFNESS AND EVEN HELP YOUR RIDING, EXPLAINS DAVID NEWBOUND OF BACK PAIN PRODUCT SPECIALISTS BACK IN ACTION.

Back pain is a common complaint amongst riders, yet many will confi rm that they are far more comfortable when in the saddle on their horse than sitting at a desk or on the sofa. t’s time to challenge the common misconception that discomfort while sitting is caused by poor posture, when in fact the culprit is lack of movement.

When you are on a horse your body is constantly moving, with your core working to keep you in position. n contrast, on most chairs, the lack of movement leads to the back muscles becoming weak and poorly co-ordinated. Circulation also drops, leading to poor soft tissue nutrition which is one reason why practitioners advise getting up and walking about frequently. When you do get moving, activities such as lifting a bale of hay can cause damage. or those who have o ce jobs as well as horses, the last months has e acerbated the situation as instead of going out to a meeting or moving to a diff erent room, much of the time has been spent at the computer. Working from home almost always means that your chair may have been designed for a diff erent purpose. inding a better chair that off ers movement has become more important than ever.

The ariable kneeling chair, for e ample see opposite , was designed to introduce poise to sitting by putting the knees lower than the hips, which reduced tension in the hips. t has knee pads but can be used with lots of diff erent leg positions, each of which places the sitter on a rocking base to create variety and e ercise. The ariable doesn’t have a backrest, but there isn’t one on a saddle either, which should make us all question why we need one on a chair. erhaps the only e ception is where you are in a less active role, such as sitting back and listening on a video call or to a webinar, and for that rocking kneelers are available with a purpose-designed back rest. nitially, you may fi nd the chair’s movement tiring, because your core muscles are being asked to engage more often, but after to days users become acclimatised. s your core strengthens, a rocking kneeling chair can be used for a full working day. ut it’s not the only option inding the right chair for your needs is key to getting the greatest benefi ts. Choose a supplier that will take time to learn about your lifestyle and physical requirements as well as your working habits and available space.

questrian consultant Sam orrest and her o ce team tried out the Capisco uls and also the Swopper saddle chair, mi ing and matching between them to fi nd the best individual choice.

“We tend to sit for long periods when working on a project, so the idea of chair to create movement appeals,” she says. “ ne person found the Swopper hard work until she got used to it she’s young and doesn’t have much core strength. ut it’s a chair that you use little and often and then can see its benefi ts.” avid says “The Capisco uls was designed to re-create the posture of a good rider. t puts the user in a balanced position that activates and develops their core and is designed for use in numerous sitting positions, from working at a computer to taking phone calls. The Swopper Saddle puts the user in a similar position to a kneeling chair but allows back and forward and up and down movement.”

Sam e plains “The Capisco uls has a part padded and shaped seat so is very comfortable. While it encourages you to sit upright there is a back rest, but fi nd only use it occasionally. t’s very different to a normal o ce chair, and when went back to one, it felt awful, quite constricting broke my back show jumping years ago and fi nd that keeping mobile makes a huge diff erence. t gives me more natural core strength that makes riding my advanced medium horse much easier.”

LEFT: THE SWOPPER TOOK A BIT OF GETTING USED TO BUT SAM FOUND IT BENEFICIAL TO HAVE MOVEMENT WHEN SITTING AT A DESK FOR A LONG PERIOD. ABOVE: THE CAPISCO PULS PUTS THE USER IN A ‘KNEELING’ POSITION AND SAM SAYS SHE FEELS AN IMPROVEMENT WHEN RIDING AFTER USING IT..

BD Membership Experience Manager Rachel Smith works from home several days a week, where she has a kneeling chair. “ ’ve got a standard o ce chair at BD HQ,” she explains, “But have been using a wooden dining chair at home. I’ve got long term issues with my hip and sciatica, and if I stand or sit for too long I get sore.” Rachel who competes at Medium level, got on with the kneeling chair straight away, she comments. “Within a couple of days I noticed less pain in my shoulders and neck from constantly using a mouse. It’s a cross between standing up and sitting down, so I’m not in one position and it encourages me to move.”

ABOVE: RACHEL HAS NOTICED A REDUCTION IN NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN AFTER TRIALLING A KNEELING CHAIR.

Claudine Bichard, who is Carl Hester’s PA and competes at Elementary level, tried the Actulum Varier, which more closely resembles a conventional o ce chair with a backrest but has a ‘rocking’ frame to produce movement.

“I’m up and down all the time, but can be sitting for a couple of hours at a time,” she says. “ ’d normally be in a swivel o ce chair or just a dining chair, and you do tend to stiff en up. ’ve had two children so my back goes easily!”

Claudine reports that she found herself sitting more upright in the Actulum Varier. “It was nice to be able to move forward or backwards easily, and there was less temptation to slouch. I’ve even found this has continued when sitting in a normal chair.” She adds that the chair was a little snug around her hips, and would probably be drawn to a kneeling chair for a future purchase. “But I do feel that the Actulum Varier would be a good choice if you have to both type on a laptop and also sit back and watch or listen to information on screen,” she adds.

LEFT: CLAUDINE FOUND LESS TEMPTATION TO SLOUCH WHEN USING THE ACTULUM VARIER.

Daniel Bremner and wife Lucy Cartwright tested the Human Tool chair adapter and Backfriend car seat adapter.

“Discomfort while driving is another common issue; car seats are designed for safety when braking or swerving, not for comfort. The Backfriend sits on top of the vehicle seat and connects the back and the seat cushion, supporting the pelvis and lumbar area,” explains David.

Daniel comments: “Lorry seats are not that comfortable; the Backfriend puts you in a slightly better position. I’ve got quite a weak lower back, but I found I was slouching less; I arrive ready to compete without feeling stiff .”

He often drives for at least an hour either to teach clients or go to competitions, so the Backfriend has proved useful, he says.

“The Human Tool is the saddle seat adapted for using with any chair and is portable – you could even put it on your sofa,” he adds.

“I didn’t get on too well with the Human Tool,” admits Daniel. “I found a few issues with the male anatomy if you get my meaning! However, Lucy soon got used to it and found that the added movement meant she didn’t get sore if she had to sit for a long period. We tend to do entries and paperwork after a full day’s riding, and don’t have o ce chairs as such, so it’s useful to have an adaptation for a normal chair.”

ABOVE: TACKLING PAPERWORK AFTER A LONG DAY IN THE YARD, LUCY CARTWRIGHT FOUND THE HUMAN TOOL USEFUL TO ADAPT A DINING CHAIR FOR AN IMPROVED SITTING POSITION. RIGHT: DANIEL BREMNER TRIED THE BACKFRIEND WHEN DRIVING HIS LORRY TO COMPETITIONS AND FOUND THAT IT PUT HIM IN A BETTER POSITION AND HE ARRIVED FEELING FRESHER.