Ergonomics
Crave comfort but don’t' want to compromise style? DecoTeak's ergonomic teak bench stools deliver both. The term "ergonomics" is derived from two Greek words meaning "work" and "natural laws." So when we talk about ergonomic furniture today, we're referring to features that help your body to work in a way that it naturally was designed to function. Unfortunately, many of the ergonomic furniture options on the market today focus on functionality at the expense of style. We say, why not have the best of both?
That's just the idea behind the design of DecoTeak's ergonomic teak benches and stools. We combined clinical research on the best height, width and arm rest positions for ergonomic function with sleek, modern styling. The result - A mix of elegance and comfort designed specifically for those who are mobility-impaired, elderly, arthritic or simply mindful of taking care of their bodies in even the simplest of ways.
Moving from standing to sitting, and sitting to standing, is one of the most common tasks we perform everyday, and usually taken for granted. However, as we get older, it is also a surprisingly physically challenging task, especially for mobility impaired, elderly, or arthritis sufferers. Significant clinical research has shown that traditional chairs, with a typical height of 17”-18”, place significant stress and strain on both the hips and knees. Extensive research has shown that two simple chair interventions can greatly reduce the stress placed on the body when moving from sitting to standing positions:
- Providing arm rests to allow the arms to lift, or support the body when transitioning from sitting to standing positions.
- Raising the height of seats to 23”. This height was found to be optimal to reduce the strain, and increase the efficiency to rise or sit down in a chair several fold.
With the new DecoTeak® product line our design team incorporated leading ergonomic research into elegant contemporary designs. Research has shown that the use of arms when going from a seating to a standing position can decrease the strain on muscles, and joints and provide up to 300% increased mobility. Almost all of the DecoTeak® benches and stools are designed with built in arms to allow customers to conveniently grip the arms as they lift themselves out of the seats. This also provides added safety in a shower environment. This will provide greater comfort, mobility, and safety not only for elderly, but for all of us.
Several of our benches and stools are being offered in the Lift Aide™ Extended Height versions. Clinical research has shown the optimal height of chairs and stools to be 23”. These extended heights will provide great benefits to the elderly and mobility and impaired, as well as the general population.
The added ease and benefits of the LiftAide™ designs provide universal benefits, whether you are 82, or 23 years old.
Slightly higher seat levels (23 inches) and arm rests help reduce strain on muscles and joints, and boost muscle efficiency and mobility. Sitting and rising just got easier, faster and less taxing on your body. Comfort and ease need not bear a boring, clinical look. Our ergonomic teak shower benches and corner teak shower benches offer beauty and functionality, and bear a rich finish that lasts for years even in harsh environments like shower stalls and outdoor decks.
Clinical & Academic Studies & Reports:
Are You Sitting Comfortably? Arthritis Research Campaign
Sit to stand from progressively lower seat heights – alterations in angular velocity. Schenkman M, Riley PO ,Pieper C. Duke University . Medical Center
Chair design affects how older adults rise from a chair. Alexander MB, Koester DJ, Grunawalt JA. 1996
Analysis of the effect of lower limb weakness on performance of a sit-to-stand task. Klein M, Talaty M, Esquenazi A, Whyte J, Keenan MA 2001
Determinants of the sit-to-stand movement. Research report: Physical Therapy, Vol. 82, September 2002
When older adults face the chai rise challenge. A study of chair height availability and height-modified chair-rise performance in the elderly. Journal American Geriatric Soc. 1993,Jan
The influence of chair height on lower limb mechanics during rising. Journal of Orthopedic Research,1989
The effects of armrests and high seat heights on lower-limb joint load and muscular activity during sitting and rising. Ergonomics,1992 Nov; 35