Health & Wellbeing

Newly announced FreedMan Chair claimed to replicate standing spine posture

Newly announced FreedMan Chair claimed to replicate standing spine posture
Simon Freedman and his FreedMan Chair
Simon Freedman and his FreedMan Chair
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The FreedMan Chair
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The FreedMan Chair
Simon Freedman and the FreedMan Chair
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Simon Freedman and the FreedMan Chair
According to the press release announcing its unveiling, the chair allows its user to maintain the natural curvature of the spine in both forwards and sideways directions
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According to the press release announcing its unveiling, the chair allows its user to maintain the natural curvature of the spine in both forwards and sideways directions
Freedman claims that nine out 10 people have unequal leg lengths, which he says has been "totally overlooked" by designers of other chairs
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Freedman claims that nine out 10 people have unequal leg lengths, which he says has been "totally overlooked" by designers of other chairs
The seat pads of the FreedMan chair can tilt from side to side, allowing users to find their natural sideways posture
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The seat pads of the FreedMan chair can tilt from side to side, allowing users to find their natural sideways posture
The key to maintaing the spine's natural curvature, Freedman claims, is a thigh angle of 27 degrees from the horizontal. The chair has been designed around maintaining this angle comfortably
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The key to maintaing the spine's natural curvature, Freedman claims, is a thigh angle of 27 degrees from the horizontal. The chair has been designed around maintaining this angle comfortably
Freedman claims that nine out 10 people have unequal leg lengths, which he says has been "totally overlooked" by designers of other chairs
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Freedman claims that nine out 10 people have unequal leg lengths, which he says has been "totally overlooked" by designers of other chairs
The seat pads of the FreedMan chair can tilt from side to side, allowing users to find their natural sideways posture
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The seat pads of the FreedMan chair can tilt from side to side, allowing users to find their natural sideways posture
The base of the FreedMan Chair
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The base of the FreedMan Chair
Simon Freedman and the FreedMan Chair
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Simon Freedman and the FreedMan Chair
The key to maintaing the spine's natural curvature, Freedman claims, is a thigh angle of 27 degrees from the horizontal. The chair has been designed around maintaining this angle comfortably
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The key to maintaing the spine's natural curvature, Freedman claims, is a thigh angle of 27 degrees from the horizontal. The chair has been designed around maintaining this angle comfortably
According to the press release announcing its unveiling, the chair allows its user to maintain the natural curvature of the spine in both forwards and sideways directions
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According to the press release announcing its unveiling, the chair allows its user to maintain the natural curvature of the spine in both forwards and sideways directions
A prototype of the FreedMan chair at 100% Design (Photo: Gizmag)
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A prototype of the FreedMan chair at 100% Design (Photo: Gizmag)
A prototype of the FreedMan chair at 100% Design (Photo: Gizmag)
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A prototype of the FreedMan chair at 100% Design (Photo: Gizmag)
A backless version of the FreedMan Chair we tried out at 100% Design (Photo: Gizmag)
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A backless version of the FreedMan Chair we tried out at 100% Design (Photo: Gizmag)
The FreedMan Chair at 100% Design (Photo: Gizmag)
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The FreedMan Chair at 100% Design (Photo: Gizmag)
Simon Freedman and his FreedMan Chair
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Simon Freedman and his FreedMan Chair
View gallery - 17 images

"It became readily apparent that many of the problems my patients were experiencing had been created by the lack of a suitable chair," says Simon Freedman, an osteopath of 20 years. "But as hard as I looked, I just couldn't find a chair to recommend to them. I decided to see if I could make one myself." After a claimed 15 years of development, Simon has announced his FreedMan Chair, which he says is the only chair that allows the spine and pelvis posture that we experience standing up.

According to the press release announcing its unveiling, the chair allows its user to maintain the natural curvature of the spine in both forwards and sideways directions.

The key to maintaing the spine's natural curvature, Freedman claims, is a thigh angle of 27 degrees from the horizontal. The chair has been designed around maintaining this angle comfortably, in a relaxed posture, without slipping from the chair.

Freedman claims that nine out 10 people have unequal leg lengths, which he says has been "totally overlooked" by designers of other chairs. The seat pads of the FreedMan chair can tilt from side to side, allowing users to find their natural sideways posture.

I gave the chair a little a little test during its unveiling at 100% Design at the end of September, and though my short sit was far from sufficient to draw any firm conclusions, it did leave me intrigued. I tried a backless version of the chair, and because of the angle of my legs, I didn't feel I was missing anything by not being able to lean back. And because of the side-to-side tilting of the seat, I found the chair was able to accommodate my natural inclination to fidget a bit without my having to shift my bottom on the seat. For the brief time I used it, it struck me as being much more comfortable than it looked. Though the FreedMan Chair does have a back rest, the intention as I understood it is that you should not lean back on it with an great force.

Talking to Freedman at the event he recounted the story of an elderly lady who tried the chair. "Watch this," she said, before standing up without using her arms for leverage, as, apparently, she'd usually need to do.

But will this help to remedy back trouble? I have no idea, but the press release quotes University of Huddersfield osteopath Professor Kim Burton, who gives what sounds like a reasonable, measured soundbite. "The philosophy of trying to help people sit as they stand is interesting," he says. "This chair will certainly alter the usual mechanics of sitting, which people may find offers a useful alternative."

When it launches at retail, the FreedMan Chair is expected to be sold for £800 (about US$1,300), but Freedman intends to launch a Kickstarter campaign very soon, selling 500 chairs at a cost price of £350 ($560). Trying before buying is obviously not a bad idea.

Source: FreedMan Chair

View gallery - 17 images
14 comments
14 comments
benfelts70
Why are there no picture of someone actually sitting in the chair?
Carlos Letelier
Nothing new here. Check out the binaria stool from be Barcelona...
Jay Gatto
We provide this seating geometry at Manta Design - it is the correct way to sit - but we do it for bicycles, in motion. Jon
Mel Tisdale
It looks more to me that it would be the easiest thing in the world to slide off and land on the floor with a jolt, especially seeing as it has castors. If you didn't need an osteopath before sitting on the FreedMan Chair, there is the high likelihood that you would afterwards. Perhaps it should be called the CrippledCoxis Chair instead.
Phileaux
benfelts70: You are correct! On the site's animated video the only thing sitting is a skeleton. In their "Evolution of Man" picture before the Freedman chair is a guy facing a computer using incorrect seat hight and posture. Is the buyer to assume the chair will force the user into correct sitting or just standing posture? I've seen too many people with incorrect walking and standing alignment to consider this the next big thing.
Simon Freedman
Hello,
Simon Freedman here. Many thanks for your comments. Pictures of people sitting on the Mark III FreedMan Chair will be up on the website tomorrow...Good idea that...
Hey Mel, no-one has slipped off our chairs yet. They're very comfortable and funnily enough people with Coccygeal problems love them.
Hey Carlos, the Binaria stool has a very different functionality to The FreedMan Chair. The Binaria is based on a split, traditional saddle design. Lot's of problems with that approach...In my opinion.
Hey Jon, I couldn't find the chair you're talking about. If you could send me a link, I'd love to take a look.
Bruce H. Anderson
IT is probably correct to assume that the normal desk height of 29-30 inches would have to increase to allow for being a little taller in the saddle.
Simon Freedman
Hey Again,
Jon, my apologies, I found your 'Manta' bicycle seat and it is really brilliant. I totally love it. I dug out your patent and it confirmed that what you are trying to achieve is very different from what The FreedMan Bicycle Seat will. The Manta does look great though, I wish you every success. Phileaux, I study sitting as a career and most research agrees that the man in the Evolution of Man is in the correct sitting position. I could point to the papers I am referring to, and I'm sure you've read A.C. Mandal.
Henry Van Campa
There is a Finnish invention called Humantool. It looks a bit like a miniature horse riding saddle with half a sphere on the bottom to balance on. Not sure if I managed to explain clearly in English? http://www.humantool.fi/english/
Roger Dutton
I thought the bicycle idea sounded interesting too, this looks sound enough to me, when my back gets out of shape I would love to try this out.
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