KNEELSIT PTY LTD Australia

Out of Africa: an idea for a stress-free seat. * Inspiration can come from the most unlikely source. For Australian psychologist Mr. Greg usher, it took the form of a two-legged stool, an essential item of equipment of the maasai tribesmen of Africa. As unlikely as it seems, that simple stool has led to the sophisticated kneelsit, a piece of ergonomic furniture-"not a chair, not a stool, but a balance seat"-designed by Mr usher to relieve spinal pressure and back strain brought on by prolonged periods of sitting still. Pain in the back In 1988, Mr usher, as part of post-graduate studies in psychology, took a 10-day course of meditation which involved sitting in silence for 15 hours a day. The result was aches and pains throughout the body, the worst of which occurred in the back. Cushions, chairs and low stools failed to bring relief. Then a small stool with half-round legs, a copy of a maasai stool, was tried and the back pain, disappeared almost immediately. "research has shown that the long-term effects of lack of movement and high-compression loading on the spinal discs are two major causes of back pain among workers in sedentary occupations, " Mr usher said. "in addition, our general tendency to sit, or slump, in stationary positions has brought about a gradual deterioration in our posture and balance sense. " The kneelsit, with its axle-mounted seat and kneeling pad, addresses all three problems. The gentle rocking motion activates the relevant body cells to provide spinal column nourishment, and distributes pressure or compression force from the spine to the thighs and lower legs.