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Furniture dimensions and postural overload for schoolchildren's head, upper back and upper limbs

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Author

  • Mariana Vieira Batistao
  • Anna Claudia Sentanin
  • Cristiane ShinoharaMoriguchi
  • Gert-Åke Hansson
  • Helenice Jane Cote Gil Coury
  • Tatiana de Oliveira Sato

Summary, in English

The aim of this study was to evaluate how the fixed furniture dimensions match with students' anthropometry and to describe head, upper back and upper limbs postures and movements. Evaluation was performed in 48 students from a Brazilian state school. Furniture dimensions were measured with metric tape, movements and postures by inclinometers (Logger Tecknologi, Akarp, Sweden). Seat height was high for 21% and low for 36% of the students; seat length was short for 45% and long for 9% and table height was high for 53% and low for 28%. Regression analysis showed that seat/popliteal height quotient is explained by 90th percentile of upper back inclination (beta=0.410) and 90th percentile of right upper arm elevation (beta=-0.293). For seat/thigh length quotient the significant variables were 90th percentile of upper back velocity (beta=-0.282) and 90th percentile of right upper arm elevation (beta=0.410). This study showed a relationship between furniture mismatch and postural overload. When the seat height is low students increase upper back left inclination and right upper arm elevation; when the seat is short students decrease the upper back flexion velocity and increase right upper arm elevation.

Publishing year

2012

Language

English

Pages

4817-4824

Publication/Series

Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation

Volume

41

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

IOS Press

Topic

  • Environmental Health and Occupational Health

Keywords

  • classroom
  • anthropometry
  • children
  • direct measurement techniques
  • inclinometer

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1875-9270