The prevailing general understanding of ergonomics is narrow mindedly limited to MSD (Muscular Skeletal Disorders), which is a quite primitive approach. The circulation is at least as important to the health as loads to the bones, muscles and ligaments and can easily be
Human lymphatic systemdisturbed by poor circulation conditions.
Advanced expert includes the circulation or CD (circulation disorders) in MSD. Disturbance both in blood micro circulation and in the massive lymphatic system can be dramatic to the health. Lymphatic system has 300.000 – 400.000 km of vessels, 10-15 l of lymph liquid and 600 -700 lymph nodes that host immune cells (which kill pathogens), filter the wastes from the lymph liquid and interact actively with the blood circulation.
The other part of circulation is the blood vessels and blood. The amount of blood in veins is 75 % (3-5 l) of all circulation in blood vessels (4-6 l). Only 1-2 l of total 15 – 20 l of all free liquid combined, is in the arteries and thus pumped by the heart. Lymph liquid and vein blood flow move in the body because of the movements of the body. The muscles and other tissues make pressure changes in the soft tissues and “push” the flow forward.
CD, disturbances in either blood or lymphatic vessels, is a very common health distractor. CD is mainly caused by the following five factors:
- Pressure from furniture
- Angles of the knees and the hips (normal 90/90 is harmful)
- Pressure from clothes (in traditional sitting, normal clothes are often too tight for optimum circulation)
- Tensions in muscles (conventional sitting creates them in many muscle groups)
- Immobility (as is the case in sitting lifestyle on conventional seats)
- Flexibility of all connective tissues around all vessels (depends on lifestyle, nutrition, tissue health, age)
Sitting on a divided saddle chair is keeping you healthy and active.
Because circulation is very sensitive, even the smallest pressure can disturb it. We have the bodies of the stone age person, who was nude, never sat on anything soft or long time and was frequently moving. Our conditions are totally different now and so we suffer from CD and also MSD a lot.
Soft underwear together with divided seats allow good ventilation without pressure on the genitals.
Salli seat design is based on sitting on the sitting bones, without pressure on the tail bone, pelvic floor or genital area, and only limited pressure on the inner thighs (where are also important lymph nodes). The upper body is in the natural standing posture, which keeps it relaxed. Other ways to optimize circulation health are wear not-at-all pressing clothes (no pressure marks on the skin), maximize the breaks from sitting, move around during phone calls (walk & talk), and do certain exercises on brakes or talks (work & gym).
The optimum clothing helps circulation. Next optimum solution from being nude would be shorts or slack trousers / overall on men and loose dress on women, both without underwear. The shoes and socks must not leave any pressure marks to the skin. These solutions impact close to the same way as being without clothes.
Many people suffer from poor circulation in the legs and get varicose veins and cellulite. The main prevention or care this is to sit with non -pressing clothes, sit on divided saddle chair, avoid standing, eat vessel – healthy food and move frequently.
There are seamless panties that leave no pressure mark for women if they are big enough. Men do not need underwear even for hygiene, if they wash their bottoms after toileting.
More ventilation in the genital area due to looser clothing, is surely a health bonus for men and women and can help to avoid many health genital and hormonal problems.
Veli-Jussi Jalkanen
Sitting Health Specialist
