Postural assessment of school children: an input for the design of furniture (original) (raw)
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School Furniture Ergonomics in Prevention of Pupils’ Poor Sitting Posture
Drvna industrija
Physical and psychological disorders in school-age children, as a consequence of prolonged sitting in class, denote one of the alarming issues of the today’s civilization. Scientific and professional literature pays great attention to the causes and phenomena of postural disorders caused by prolonged sitting, such as musculoskeletal disorders and back pain (MSD/BP). This phenomenon in children is increasingly correlated with school furniture design. School furniture, especially the chair and desk, are one of the most important factors to achieve the right body posture of pupils during school education. Despite this, not much attention is paid to the ergonomic requirements in furniture design, which are a prerequisite for good health, motivation improvement and learning of students. The objective of this paper is to show the impact of unmatched school furniture on the development of health problems and poor pupils’ posture through a review of scientific literature and previous studie...
IAEME Publication, 2015
The purpose of this study is to identify the relevance of various anthropometric parameters measurements for the ergonomic design of classroom furniture especially school desks. Literature survey reveals that many authors have used various body dimensions e.g. popliteal height, stature, shoulder height etc. while studying the designs of school desks from ergonomic aspects. It is also clear from the survey that there have been attempts to establish theoretical recommendations for the principles that relate school furniture design to children's anthropometry. Combinational equations are also developed by some authors based on theoretical & practical ergonomic principles. The present article does a critical study of the parameters considered & of the recommended relationships between these parameters & the desk dimensions. Most commonly used school furniture dimensions and concerned anthropometric parameters relevant to ergonomic school desk design are identified. Appropriate relationships, combinational equations between the two are subsequently identified. It is revealed that further research is required to be done for some of the parameters for the improvement of ergonomic design of classroom furniture. These parameters include mainly, width of multiuser desks, space consideration of school bag storage, position of foot rest, etc. Also there is need of region wise collection and analysis of up to date anthropometric data of students, as the same changes from region to region and again from time to time.
2019
t In recent years, a growing interest in ergonomics and comfort perception in secondary schools and universities can be detected, with the aim of going beyond the UNI-EN regulations and understanding how practically improve students’ perceived comfort during lessons. The aim of this study was to analyse the discomfort perceived by students while sitting on combo-desk during lessons. A statistical sample of 20 healthy students performed a combination of three different tasks in two sessions - listening, reading on a tablet and writing - in a mixed sequence. Subjective perceptions were investigated through questionnaires, in which the expected comfort and the overall one were rated on a 10-point comfort scale and the perceived comfort on a 5-point Likert scale. Subject’s postures were acquired non-invasively using cameras; Kinovea® software was used to detect postural angles directly on pictures; the acquired angles were used for the virtual-postural analysis, using a DHM (Digital Hum...
Ergonomic assessment of primary school furniture in United Arab Emirates
Occupational Ergonomics
BACKGROUND: In many developing countries, anthropometric measures are rarely available and dimensions of school furniture are either based on anthropometric measures from developed countries or are arbitrarily determined. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to ergonomically assess classroom furniture dimensions in United Arab Emirates as compared to students' anthropometric measures. METHODS: Relevant anthropometric dimensions of a sample of 200 grade 6 students were measured in two large schools in Dubai and Sharjah. Dimensions of furniture used by these students were also measured and compared to their anthropometric measures. RESULTS: Results show that there was a major mismatch between many anthropometric measures and classroom furniture dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: There is a great discrepancy between furniture dimensions and anthropometrics measures of students. To ensure postural comfort. a new set of furniture dimensions for grade 6 classrooms in is suggested based on anthropometric dimensions of students.
APPLICATION OF ANTHROPOMETRY DATABASE IN DEVELOPING ERGONOMICS FURNITURE IN SCHOOL: A CASE STUDY
Although Malaysia is considered as a new developed nation, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is rising among Malaysian school children (Nurul et al. 2009; Mohd et al. 2010; Syazwan et al. 2009). Globally, many studies have confirmed the trend with risk factors identified (El-Metwally et al. 2007; Grimmer et al. 2006; Haselgrove et al. 2008, Murphy et al. 2007; Navuluri et al. 2006). Most of the researchers have concluded that ergonomics risk factors exist among children especially from school environment including student’s posture, school bag load, school furniture and anthropometrics parameters (Murphy et al. 2007; Smith & Leggat 2007; Trevelyan & Legg 2006). In Malaysia, the issue of heavy school bag load has been highlighted by academia, media and non-governmental organization. Nurul et al. (2009) and Shamsul et al. (2005) had determined that the school bags carried by Malaysian school children exceeded more than 15% of their body weight. This finding was reported in the mainstream media such as The Star-“A load” and NGOs such as the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) -“school bag issue fall on deaf ear”(August 3, 2011). In addition, the CAP had also conducted their own survey amongst 200 primary school children with the conclusion that most of them carried more than 15% of their body weight which is exceeding the load to be carried as recommended by health expert. With all the vacillation by the public and experts, the issue has not been taken seriously by the Ministry of Education. The main reason could be the lack of clinical evidence leading to scoliosis as found in the survey conducted by the Ministry of Health (The Star 2010). However, the lack of prevalence of scoliosis is not an indicator that MSDs cases do not exist amongst the students. Even if most of the MSDs cases may resolve without major treatment, it has the probability leading to severe injury such as slip disc among adults. Therefore the complaints from the children cannot be taken lightly. There is a possibility that the onset of MSDs among adults begin during younger age and more significant among children who are exposed to ergonomics risks such as heavy bag load and adapting to un-ergonomics furniture during their school years (Beija et al. 2005; Smith & Leggat 2007; Viry et al. 1999). Hence, it is important that ergonomics risks should be reduced during the early stage especially in school as the effect of MSDs may trigger in future stages of teen/adolescent or adulthood. At this stage, the children’s bones are still developing and continuous exposure to unnecessary risks may inhibit normal growth of the children and pose greater threat of MSDs in adult life (Korovessis et al. 2004). However, most parents, media and stakeholders are only aware of the school bag as is the sole risk that has the probability of developing MSDs (CAP2011). This was found to be untrue with more researches indicating a mismatch between the children anthropometry and the existing school furniture utilized daily during schooling. Findings by Zarith et al. (2012) and Chung and Wong (2007) showed there were mismatches between the current existing furniture with the anthropometric characteristics of the schoolchildren. The effect from a mismatch will lead to MSDs especially from the risk of awkward posture of frequent bending and twisting of muscle. Figure 2.1 shows a clear evidence of a mismatch in a Malaysian’s school environment. In order for this matter to be taken seriously, statistical evidence based on scientific research findings should be established. If evidence of inappropriate furniture is to be established, a comprehensive research team is needed, best comprising of various experts such as safety and health practitioner, ergonomist and industrial designer. From the research finding, a tangible output must be proposed in order to effectively solve the issue regarding inappropriate school furniture. However, before any recommendation on new school furniture is proposed, significant association between complaints of MSDs and the current existing furniture must be established.
Ergonomic design of school furniture: challenges for the Portuguese schools
It can be observed an increased concern about the school classrooms, in particular about the study and design of school furniture fitting the students' needs and anthropometrics characteristics. The main aim of this study was to perform an anthropometric survey, considering the main anthropometric dimensions and, in accordance, to define the dimensions and characteristics of school furniture for Portuguese students of the 1st education cycle using valuable and validated ergonomic criteria. The analyzed sample includes, so far, 432 students. Obtained results seem to reinforce the need to consider the specificity of the anthropometric characteristics of the Portuguese students by adding an extra size mark for school furniture in a future revision of the corresponding standard.
An Attempt to Improve the Sitting Posture of Children in the Classrooms
We sought to improve the sitting postures of children studying in the classrooms of a primary school. We made the seat of a standard chair lower and attached a cushion designed by one of the authors. The cushion is cut at a 25° downward angle toward the legs to allow the users to support their weight with their feet and alleviate pressure on the underside of the thighs. We also lowered the desktop to below the height of children's elbows. Eighty-three children were given the new chairs and desks, and they were observed over 7 months. Around 10 % of them voluntarily maintained good sitting postures; others straightened their postures when the teachers reminded them to do so.
Ergonomic Design of School Furniture
Advances in Human Factors and Ergonomics Series, 2010
This study has been carried out to evaluate the number of mismatches between secondary girl student's anthropometry and existing furniture dimensions in Bangladesh. In this study, 375 students (girls) are in classes 6-10 in the age group between 10-15 years that have randomly selected from three secondary girl schools in Bangladesh. Twelve anthropometric measurements and seven existing furniture dimensions were taken to find out the possible mismatch. A defined match criterion equation used to determine the mismatch. Various researchers gave these equations. The result indicates that there is a significant mismatch between anthropometric measurement and furniture dimensions. The highest mismatch percentage for seat height is about 90% for class 9. Therefore, 90% of girls use the seat that is too high (high mismatch). Mismatch percentage for seat depth is 100% for all classes. As a result, seat depth is so small for all students. Seat width is 100% for class 8 and 60% for class 9. The desktop height is about 100% mismatch for all classes. This paper also proposes dimensions for new furniture. The new furniture improves the match percentages from 50% to 100%.
An analysis of biomechanical and anthropometric parameters on classroom furniture design
African Journal of Biotechnology, 2010
In this study, the necessary anthropometric measurements of classroom furniture used in Turkish higher education were carried out. The static anthropometric measurements of 13 dimensions from 1049 students were obtained while they are standing and sitting. The data obtained was analyzed to determine the limit values to be used in classroom and laboratory design. The dimensions of school desks and chairs were compared with the student's anthropometric measurements. For male students, the average weight was found as 69.50 kg, stature as 1749 mm, and popliteal height as 433 mm. For female students, the average weight was found as 56.02 kg, stature as 1618 mm, and popliteal height as 421 mm values. According to these anthropometric measurements, it was observed that there was a mismatch between popliteal height and seat height, knee height and desk clearance, buttock to popliteal length and seat depth. The percentile values concerning the ergonomic design of school desks and chairs in our classrooms were presented. The results show that there are significant differences between the anthropometric measures of Turkish students and other nations compared.
Anthropometric aspects of body seated in school
Work (Reading, Mass.), 2012
This study aimed to assess the student-furniture interface from anthropometric parameters of the sitting posture. The sample was composed of 887 students from two public schools in the State of Parana-Brazil, which attended children from 7 to 17 years of age. The data collection used anthropometric measures of the sitting position, a questionnaire containing a human body diagram for indication of discomfort areas and photographic records to verify postural and ergonomic inadequacies in classroom. The following anthropometric variables were measured: popliteal height, sacro-popliteal length, hip width, lumbar support height, and elbow and thigh height. Percentiles 5 and 95 of anthropometric variables showed differences statistically significant, with variation coefficient greater than 30%. In relation to body discomfort, the highest occurrences were recorded for ankle, knees and shoulder joints as well as for spine and buttocks. It was concluded that children use school furniture tha...