<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"Even with the recent news that sitting down will kill you, most of us are unable to make major changes to our workspace set-up. To help you stay healthy, we've taken a look at some alternatives to the traditional office chair.\nTrying to stay healthy despite a sedentary desk-based career is all about better posture, circulation and most importantly moving more.\nWe would of course advise seeking expert opinion before you make any major changes to your sitting setup, especially if you're not in the best of health, but if you do decide to make a change, here are five options to inspire you.\n\n\nTake a Seat: 5 Office Chair Alternatives\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1. Saddle Seats\n\nA backless \"saddle stool\" stops you slumping back in your chair, lowers your thighs, opens up your hips and gently puts your spine into a \"healthy lordotic curve.\" Plus, anything that makes you feel like you're in a Western (rather than the office) can only be a good thing.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n2. Kneeling Chairs\r\n\nA kneeling chair is said to help promote an \"open and dynamic\" sitting position that keeps your spine in its natural curvature, your back and abdominal muscles working and improves breathing and circulation. This is called \"active sitting\" and fans of the system claim it helps concentration and creativity.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3. Stand Up Stools\n\nStand-up stools have been around for years to help take the weight off workers' feet. The muvman is a modern version aimed at office workers. \"The main point is that you keep moving,\" explains the company behind the stool. Ideal for those who want to alternate sitting and standing, the flexible stool is height-adjustable so you can perch high or low and tilted forward to put you at an optimum distance from your work station.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n4. Balance Ball Chairs\n\nA bouncy balance ball chair is all about strengthening your core muscles, improving spinal alignment and reducing nerve compression. The balance ball can also be removed and used for in-office exercise, if that's appropriate in your workplace. Whether or not you can also play super-sized office soccer with the ball is for you to find out.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5. Active Dynamic Stools\n\nThe Swooper promotes \"active sitting\" by moving in different dimensions -- backward, forward, sideways and up and down too. It's all about moving your muscles with ever-changing positions. Scientific studies suggest you move twice as much on an active seat as on a conventional one, which has got to be a good thing.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInterested in more Health &amp; Tech resources? Check out Mashable Explore, a new way to discover information on your favorite Mashable topics. \nThumbnail image courtesy of Victor Bezrukov"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2011/05/14/office-chair-alternatives/>