About Core-flex Seating Technologies


Core-flex Seating Technologies was founded in 2005 in Victoria, on the beautiful west coast of Canada.  Our company grew out of an idea: to build seating that enables the body to maintain healthy interaction with gravity and the environment.  "Movement is life", attributed to Moshe Feldenkrais, is the best summation for our mission statement.  Highlights of our history:

  • 2005-2007 Testing of alternative seating configurations based on enabling natural bodily motion
  • Extensive review of research on the relationship between motion and spinal health
  • US Patent #7,350,865 granted in 2008, other patents pending
  • 2009-2010 initial testing of Core-flex chair by staff and patients at Backfit Clinic, one of the busiest spinal rehab clinics in western Canada
  • Excellent feedback during two years of testing, prototypes still in use
  • 2011 Commercial production with Lifeform Furniture Mfg., introduced Core-flex into Relax the Back stores, steady growth in sales
  • Our success as an effective remedy for back pain has contributed to major insights regarding posture, spinal stabilization, and motion 

Since 2006 we have communicated with literally hundreds of medical and ergonomic professionals regarding the Core-flex technology.  Without exception they have given positive feedback, encouragement, and specific suggestions for further development, without which we could not have gotten this far.  We have not been able to arrange laboratory review of the concept, due to the expense of funding comprehensive research on all of the areas where we would expect to see measurable results (muscle stimulation measured via surface and fine-wire EMG, real-time pressure redistribution under the ischia during seat flexing, pelvic tilting and variations in core muscle engagement, metabolic stimulation, etc).

In October of 2012 we were thrilled to have Dr. Jenny Pynt of Charles Sturt University in Australia agree to do a professional review of the chair for us.  I have long considered Dr. Pynt to be one of the world’s top experts on sitting ergonomics, for the following reasons:

  • She has published four books specifically about sitting, covering the history and design of seating, the exercises necessary to avoid back pain, and the importance of movement for healthy seating.
  • Her published research and lay articles have focused on sitting posture and pain prevention.
  • In addition to her research, Dr. Pynt has been a practicing and teaching physiotherapist for many years, so she has extensive practical experience in treatment and rehabilitation, and keeps current with the entire range of research pertinent to sitting ergonomics.

After using a Core-flex chair for more than a year, Dr. Pynt has written several articles based on her analysis of the Core-flex sitting experience, and has published a paper in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies on Dynamic Sitting which references Core-flex.  We are honored to present her feedback on our website. 

The Future of Healthy Sitting

We are working on several other seating innovations that will be on the market in the near future.  First will be an active lounger that will bring the benefits of Core-flex motion into your living room.  Next, a revolutionary recline mechanism (patent pending) that allows continuous lumbar support even when leaning forward, to encourage smooth, interactive motion and postural variation in the sagittal plane.  In development, a line of medical devices including wheelchair and hospital seating that allows the chair-bound to experience the benefits of frequent postural variation, even if they are incapacitated. 

Thank-you for taking the time to share our adventure!

 

Steve Pearse

President

Core-flex Seating Technologies