Health conscious dental pros are looking for a healthier and more productive way of working.

Healthy sitting on divided swinging saddle chair provides:

 

1. Natural posture, healthy back with a low back curve all the time.
2. Better pelvic area health, when the pressure on the pelvic floor, genitals and onto the inner pelvic organs is off.
3. Close up position to the patient, good view into the mouth, no need to bend over.
4. Weight on the sitting bones over the gap, no pressure on the genitals, tailbone, pelvic floor or on internal pelvic organs.
5. Four-handed work close to each other, fluent and easy
6. Easy mobility and flexibility in motion, rolling and positions

 

What health problems (= SD, sitting disorders) relate from normal / traditional sitting:

 

• Back degeneration, low back and neck pains, unavoidable poor posture, shoulder tensions.
• Poor circulation (blood and lymph) all over, especially in the lower extremities and into the head.
• Problems in the joints = hips, knees, and shoulders.
• Sitting fatigue due to combination of metabolic disturbances.
• Genital health problems like external inflammations, poor erection, poor testosterone levels.
• Inner pelvic organ problems like prostate problems, inner inflammations, constipation, etc.

Everyone in the dental profession is affected in normal sitting. Awareness of this issue is poor.

 

 

 

Divided saddle chair, with the swing mechanism gives ideal ergonomics

 

Optimum sitting pressure on a divided and swinging saddle chair is based on the fact that the sitting bones are located under the hip. They keep the buttocks and thighs from being pressed against the seat. Thighs point down at a 45 degree angle, tilting the pelvis to the neutral position, as when standing. This allows the lower and upper body to find a relaxed, natural posture, without the need for a backrest. Feet rest on the floor on both sides of the body as if you were riding a horse. It is easy to operate pedals with your feet placed on the sides, or one a little bit more forward.

 

General benefits of a divided swinging saddle chair in dentistry

 

• Relieves/eliminates quickly lower back pain (smaller disk pressure, better circulation in the lumbar area).
• Gives you a healthy, natural and relaxed posture (back corrects its posture when slouching stops).
• Reduces shoulder area tension (due to better posture and better functioning of muscles).
• Decreases risks for internal pelvic disorders (in prostate, uterus, vagina, rectum, due to smaller pressure upon the pelvic opening/ pelvic bowl)
• Improves genital health (erection, testosterone, sperm, and inflammations, due to lower temperature, smaller pressure and better circulation).
• Prevents fatigue and improves productivity (through deeper breathing that better posture causes).
• Prevents shoulder, hip, and knee joint problems (because of natural angles in joints).
• Good and easy working positions together (easy to be close up above the mouth, good view into the mouth).
• Better circulation (lymph and blood), especially in the legs (due to less pressure and wider angles).
• Easy rolling, turning, and reaching (picking materials, rolling to the table, fast and effortless due to good position of the feet on both sides of the weight point).

 

Unknown genital health benefits

 

A divided seat is very beneficial. Gap in the middle of the seat allows proper pelvis/hip position without pressure or discomfort in the soft tissues of the genitals.

 

For men, a divided seat is a much safer solution when it comes to erectile functions, quality of sperm and testosterone production. The pudendal vessels, which go to the genitals under the hip and over the pelvic floor, are not pressed between the seat and the pubic bone as normally. Also the testicles, which are very sensitive organs, have the healthy temperature (+33°C) and are not under pressure as normally. Pressure on the soft tissues on the pubic bone increases genital health risks for both men and women.

 

For women, one additional advantage is the decreased growth of bacteria (and decreased amount of infections) as a result of better ventilation and lower humidity and temperature in the genital area. Should any bacteria get under the skin, better circulation brings the white cells to eliminate the invader inflammation faster.

 

Internal pelvic health is at steak

 

In statistics we can see that the lower pelvic area is a catastrophic “nest” of various illnesses, both in men and women. As much as 24 % of all women’s cancers hide in the 1,1 litre “pelvic bowl”; 47 % of men’s cancers occur in the same area that is only about 0,8 litres. In addition to cancer, numerous other health problems occur in the lower pelvic area.

 

This is a poorly known fact. The significant risk is created by the pressure that comes in through the pelvic opening while sitting, and creates a pressure field inside the pelvis by disturbing the circulation and metabolism. When so much time is spent sitting every day, it is a logical assumption that health problems will increase.

 

The solution is to sit on a two-part saddle chair, and have loose and airy clothes. Of course women have the advantage of wearing a looser skirt / dress – without the pressure of tight underwear this is the optimum solution.

 

Additional benefits of the good posture

Good posture improves the intestinal health by eliminating the pressure in the abdominal cavity. Modern science now proves that this section of health is the most important, effecting strongly on general immunity and brain health too. Sufficient fibre, good posture and active stomach muscles are the basis of good health.

 

Better circulation into the brain and better brain health comes also with the good posture when the working height is right. When the vessels in the neck are not pressed by the neck muscles, which are normally tense due to the position and supporting the head. This critical area of circulation has direct impact on headaches, activity of the brain and, in long term, also on the memory.

 

Special ergonomic issues in dentistry

Difficult positions, like working on posterior teeth, examining radiographs, surgery, working with large-chested patients or those who cannot tolerate a supine position, all become easier because of the more natural, relaxed, and free sitting. The most efficient way of working is to use the microscope or loupes. In any case the dentist should use the mirror instead of bending down.

 

During surgery and other lengthy operations, the benefits of good sitting become even more obvious. Foot-operated height control keeps the gloves clean and helps to maintain the welfare of your body and the accuracy of your work while you change positions and sitting height during long procedures.

 

Shoulder joint problems often come from elevated shoulder positions (over 30 degrees) and this puts stress on the joints. A riding-like sitting position, with shoulders in their natural place, allows a lower positioning of the patient. That, in turn, allows the sitter to relax the shoulders.

 

Typical low back pain usually reduces in days when the posture improves, and the disk pressure becomes natural. Low back pain patients become convinced about this ergonomics with this relief.

 

Sitting down and standing up are easy, because on a saddle chair you are already half-way up. Sitting could not be more fluent, since the backrest is not in the way. This puts you instantly into the right and relaxed sitting position with proper posture.

 

Entering data on the computer is smoother and faster, as you can roll back and forth fast and easily with your saddle chair. The movements you do while using the chair keep your muscles active and improve your metabolism.

 

The Scandinavian working concept – good posture, good view into the mouth and efficient and easy movement – is what the riding-like sitting on a good saddle chair gives you. It allows you to be close to the patient, and leaves more room for the legs. This method dramatically decreases problems for both the dentist, assistant and pair/four-handed work, and increases the productivity that we all value.

 

Adapting to a saddle chair usually means uncomfortable adaptation to the body but only some days. The “saddle soreness” in the buttocks and inner thighs, as well as tiredness of the back muscles may last 2–14 days.

 

It is worth it, but nothing comes for free. Financially, the change is cheap. You need to learn some sitting physiology to be motivated to make the change, alter your working movements and positions, and tolerate temporary discomfort. In return, you will get a healthier body, better posture, higher productivity (more patients with the same energy), improved quality of work, and longer career.

 

 

Veli-Jussi Jalkanen

Sitting health expert developer, designer.

President

Salli Systems, Finland