Effect of a kneeling chair on lumbar curvature in patients with low back pain and healthy controls: A pilot study.

Background: The concept of an ideal sitting posture is often used in practice but lacks a basis in evidence.

Objective: We designed a cross-sectional, comparative, matched study to determine the effects of chair and posture on lumbar curvature in 10 patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CLBP; mean pain duration 24 ± 18 months) and 10 healthy matched controls.

Methods: Pelvic incidence, sacral slope and lumbar curvature were measured on computed radiographs by 2 blinded clinicians for subjects in 2 postures (upright vs slumped sitting) and on 2 chairs (usual flat chair vs kneeling chair).