Q. Can I sit the whole day without a back rest?

A. Much better than you might think! The "swopper" is designed in such a way that people, even when sitting down, can do what they are actually designed for: moving, walking, running, bending and stretching are the original model movements of homo sapiens. For none of these movements do people need a back rest! Therefore one isn't needed on the "swopper" either, providing you keep moving. Put in modern terms: "swopping" is like jogging sitting down.

Sitting motionless on traditional chairs, you require a back rest because the back muscles are not designed to do supporting work for hours on end. But if they are forced to do such work, tension and back pain are the practically unavoidable result. Indeed, by supporting yourself, you "incapacitate" your muscles, no demands are made on them, they become weaker and weaker and are less and less able to do that for which they are designed: to keep people upright and to keep the intervertebral discs in their place.

On the "swopper" your back is always active and always moving. Due to the slight but constant compensating movements that are required to maintain your balance on the "swopper", various muscle groups are repeatedly placed under pressure and relieved of pressure. As a result, your whole back remains fit and supple and you feel lively and fresh all day long.

Should you get twinges in your back now and again during the acclimatisation phase on the "swopper", that’s a good sign. Muscle groups that have been unused to date may be "waking up" again.... The best thing you can do is to have a good swing about in all directions. That way you promote the supply of blood to the muscles and encourage the removal of waste substances from the muscles; both of which can reduce discomfort.

The bottom line is that movement is the best cure for back pain.