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Anthropometric aspects of body seated in school

Issue title: IEA 2012: 18th World congress on Ergonomics - Designing a sustainable future

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Reis, P.; | Moro, A.R.; ; | Da Silva, J. | Paschoarelli, L. | Nunes Sobrinho, F. | Peres, L.

Affiliations: Graduate Program in Production Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil | Community College of Foz do Iguaçu, PR, Brazil | Departament of Physical Education, University of West Paraná, PR, Brazil | Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil | Graduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil | State University of São Paulo | Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Note: [] Corresponding author: Pedro Ferreira Reis, Instituto de Ensino Superior de Foz do Iguaçu, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – Programa de Pós Graduação em Engenharia de Produção – Ergonomia - Laboratório de Biomecânica – Campus Universitário, Trindade, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. CEP:88040-970; Tel. (55)4837218530; E-mail: ergoreis@hotmail.com

Keywords: Seating posture, Discomfort, School furniture

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-0262-907

Journal: Work, vol. 41, no. Supplement 1, pp. 907-914, 2012

Published: 2012
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Abstract

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 that does not meet their anthropometric standards, which favored the adoption of incorrect postures and contributed to the emergence of musculoskeletal problems that can interfere with their educational process.

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