Match between school furniture dimensions and children's anthropometry in Isfahan schools

Abstract

Background and aims the main part of students' time is spent at school. Recent studies have released that lack of match between students' anthropometry size and dimensions of existing furniture is a risk factor in creating discomfort and muscle- skeletal disorders (such as backache and neck pain), reducing concentration, increasing fatigue, restless and eyestrain in youths and students. Methods In this study 982 students, 493 male (50.2%) and 489 female (49.8%) ranging 7 - 12 years old, were selected. In addition to age, sex, weight and height, six dimensions of anthropometric measures including: shoulder height, elbow rest height, knee height, popliteal height, buttock-popliteal length and hip breadth by anthropometry, caliper and adjustable seat height, goniometry, tape and scale, were taken into account. Results This study explains that there is a significant difference between the minimum and maximum acceptable and available dimensions of furniture (p<0.001). The Height of desk in old design is higher than acceptable height for many students (in the order of size in 100, 95.4, and 74.3 percent). The seat depth in this design is shorter for the majority of students (in the order of size in 92.1, 92 and 97.9 percent of studied students). Conclusion In designing suitable furniture for students, considering available anthropometry differences in age and sex is essential.

Keywords

• Ergonomics. Anthropometry
• furniture
• Schools