Ergonomic Recommendation of Suitable Toilet Seat Height for Older Thai People

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the main factors affecting older people as they rise from a toilet seat and to identify the suitable toilet seat height for this population. Material and Methods: Data from 342 older people both male and female aged 60 years and older were used to design a mock-up toilet with a specified seat width according to the 95th percentile of hip breadth. The data of lower leg length were used to design toilet seat height levels in the second phase in another 30 older participants at 100.0%, 110.0% and 120.0% of an individual’s lower leg length (LLL). Rectus femoris and gluteus maximus muscle activity, time taken while rising, pressure under the thighs and satisfaction of the older participants were compared across three toilet seat height levels; using the repeated analysis measurements of variance. These three potential factors were then analyzed together with the prioritized factor indicated by the specialists using the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Results: Rectus femoris muscle activity, time taken while rising, and satisfaction of the older participants in rising from toilet seat heights 100.0, 110.0 and 120.0% LLL were significantly different (p-value<0.05). Conclusion: It was found that the suitable toilet seat height level for older people for industrial ergonomic purposes was at 110.0% LLL, which was also equivalent to the 95th percentile of male and female LLL.

Keywords

• ergonomics
• older people
• satisfaction
• toilet seat height