Affiliations: Low Back Biomechanics and Workplace Stress Laboratory,
Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH,
USA | Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of
Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA | Department of Environmental Health, University of
Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Kermit Davis, University of
Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, 3223 Eden Ave, 330 Kettering
Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA. Tel.: +1 513 558 2809; Fax: +1 513
558 4397; E-mail: kermt.davis@uc.edu
Abstract: Musculoskeletal pain in school-aged children is highly prevalent.
While there are many potential factors relating to this discomfort, one
unexplored factor is the ergonomic mismatch. The objective of this study was to
determine whether the degree of mismatch between the body dimensions and the
classroom furniture was associated with body discomfort. One hundred and
thirty-nine children in a Midwestern U.S. school district participated in the
study where demographic information, anthropometric measurements, self-reported
regional body discomfort, and furniture measurements were collected. The
results indicate an extremely high prevalence of ergonomic mismatch. Contrary
to what was hypothesized, the ergonomic mismatch was not associated with body
discomfort. The lack of association may have been a result of the extremely
high prevalence of ergonomic mismatch as well as potential adaptations by the
students. Although almost every student was found to not fit their desk and
chairs, ergonomic mismatch had limited impact on the body discomfort. It
appears that other factors such as backpack weight and time carrying may
contribute more to the discomfort of students. However, caution is stress with
regard to dismissing ergonomic mismatch factor as a potential risk factor since
the extremely high prevalence may have washed out any effect.
Keywords: School children, musculoskeletal pain, furniture, adolescents, back pain
