Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate mismatch between students and classroom furniture dimensions and evaluate the improvement in implementing the European furniture standard.
Background: In Portugal, school furniture does not meet any national ergonomic criteria, so it cannot fit students' anthropometric measures.
Method: A total of 893 students belonging to third (7th through 9th grades) and secondary (10th through 12th grades) cycles participated in the study. Anthropometric measurements of the students were gathered in several physical education classes. The furniture dimensions were measured for two models of tables and seats. Several two-way equations for match criteria based on published studies were applied to data.
Results: The percentage of students who match with classroom furniture dimensions is low (24% and 44% between table and students, 4% and 9% between seat and students at 7th and 12th grades, respectively). Table is high for the third cycle, seat is high for both cycles, and seat depth fits well to students. No significant relationship was found between ergonomic mismatch and prevalence of pain.
Conclusion: For each cycle, at least two different sizes indicated in the European standard should be available to students, considering the large variability in body dimensions within each cycle. The match criteria used gives a large percentage of students without pain in a mismatch situation.
Application: Future measures applying to secondary schools should revise the decision of selecting a single size of classroom furniture and improve the implementation of the European standard. New criteria for ergonomic mismatch are needed that more closely model the responses about discomfort/pain.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0018720814533991 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Brain and Subjective Responses to Indoor Environments Related to Concentration and Creativity.
Sensors (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Housing & Interior Design (AgeTech-Service Convergence Major), Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
Electroencephalograms (EEGs) can be used to study the influence of environmental elements on human emotions, cognition, and behavior. EEGs can reveal unconscious responses and fill in the gaps left by subjective responses provided in survey questionnaires or interviews. EEG research on the impact of classroom design elements on concentration and creativity is scarce; the design elements studied have not been diverse enough.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMismatch between fixed classroom furniture and anthropometric measurements among university students: Relationships to ergonomic risk.
Work
October 2024
Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, Cyprus, Turkey.
Background: Appropriate arrangement of classroom ergonomics is necessary for maintaining health and improving academic performance, learning, and motivation.
Objective: We aimed to determine the anthropometric measurements and ergonomic risk levels of students during a handwriting activity on a fixed desk and chair and to analyze the mismatch and relationships between these factors.
Methods: This study included 149 university students (female:73, male:76).
Primary school learners' movement during class time: perceptions of educators in the Western Cape, South Africa.
BMC Public Health
December 2023
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation and Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa.
Background: Over the last decade, the efficacy of in-classroom movement to reduce sedentary behaviour has been mainly conducted in high-income, developed countries. To date, there have been no published reports on the perceptions of principals and teachers regarding learners' movement during class time to inform the implementation of classroom-based movement strategies to reduce sedentariness in South Africa.
Methods: A sample of primary school principals and grades 5 and 6 teachers from a range of socio-economic categories participated in this exploratory, descriptive qualitative study in the metro central district of the Western Cape Education Department in South Africa.
A blended model of interior design studio practice due to COVID-19.
F1000Res
November 2023
Interior Design Department, Ahila University, Manama, Bahrain.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic upended the educational system around the globe. During this challenging period, universities and colleges looked for other effective alternative methods of learning, such as Virtual Learning Environments (VL). Besides, Ahlia University has implemented E-learning in response to COVID-19.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaking 'being less sedentary feel normal' -investigating ways to reduce adolescent sedentary behaviour at school: a qualitative study.
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act
July 2023
School of Health and Society, Faculty of Arts Social Science and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
Background: Adolescents spend over 50% of a 24-hour period and 63% of the school day sedentary. Few comprehensive qualitative studies have explored teachers' and students' perceptions of potential strategies to reduce sedentary behaviour (SB) in the secondary school setting. This project aimed to elicit students' and teachers' perspectives of feasible and acceptable ways to encourage adolescents to "sit less and stand or move more" during the school day.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!