Back App

Description

Several years ago we met with Dr. Freddy Johnsen, inventor of the BackApp chair. After suffering through two back surgeries, Dr. Johnsen conceived the BackApp to exercise the stabilizing muscles in your back while sitting. As well as being aesthetically just a really nice looking, stylish chair, we were compelled by the proposition of an ergonomic chair which promoted this type of moving in an office environment where it is obviously needed. We were impressed by several published medical studies which demonstrated how it reduces the effort to maintain a neutral sitting posture and its effect on lumbar posture and trunk muscle activation.

What makes this chair stand out is the patented rubber ball mechanism which allows adjustment of the rotation radius for core muscle flexion. In layman’s terms, one of our team members likened the movement to sitting on a pilates ball, a prescription from his chiropractor whose advise he sought after deciding “going under the knife” to fix his back pain was too risky. This gentle circular motion activates core muscles and the user never feels unstable or out of control as the weight of the chair, along with the wider footprint, helps maintain the center of gravity more easily. This adjustment is very easy as the ball mechanism is rubberized and simple to grip, and you can go from “no movement” to “maximum movement” in just seconds. We recommend that new users start on a low movement setting and gradually increase it as they become more familiar with the action of the chair.

It is a saddle-type seat, so those who wear skirts or have very wide hips should be advised. BackApp says they’re working on a solution to these issues, so stay tuned. Regardless, one of our female testers who is familiar with saddle chairs described it as “not so severe a saddle”, so whether your hips are wide or narrow, the superior padding and seat comfort make this a solid choice for an ergonomic office chair.

The BackApp also features a nice range of height adjustment (24″ to 33″) that makes it a perfect solution for sit-stand desk users of all sizes. We also like it for taller stationary desks and conference tables. The lowest seat height, however, is 24″ (without the Wheels*, which add another inch), and this may be too high for some users who intend to use it at regular desk height, so measure first. One reviewer mentioned that sit-stand desk users may not even be inclined to use either desk or chair in the low height range because it is so comfortable at higher settings.

Back App

On the Back App you sit tilting in all directions with your feet on a footplate padded with a soft damping material.

By turning the ball up or down you easily adjust the tilting movement.

The sitting position and the gentle motion ensure a wonderful sitting experience both with and without wheels.

Sitting on the Back App
On the Back App with the adjustable Magic Ball and your feet on the footplate you will:

• sit more upright with less effort
• burn more energy 19%
• exercise your core muscles in lower back-end neck

How to Use the BackApp