Postural risk associated with Wooden Steel Chairs and Stackable Arm Chairs in a low-income country.

Background: Wooden Steel Chairs (WSCs) and Stackable Arm Chairs (SACs) are widely used in tertiary institutions of learning in low income countries. No local studies seem to have investigated the postural risk associated with the concerned chair type.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the postural risk associated with WSCs and SACs. It also determined the anatomical distribution of musculoskeletal complaints among users of the chair types.

Methods: Purposive sampling was used to select 100 desktop computer users (23.25±1.6 years) of which 50% consistently used a computer laboratory with WSCs and the other half used one with SACs. The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method was used to evaluate the sitting posture of users of both chair types. Musculoskeletal complaints were investigated using the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire.

Results: Analyses showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) mean RULA scores for the right side of the body for users of WSCs (6.08±0.85) compared to users of SACs (5.26±1.23). Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found on the prevalence of lower back pain between users of WSCs and SACs. Among all study participants, 72% reported musculoskeletal pain at one or more body parts in the previous 12 months. Self-reported complaints pertained to the neck (24%), lower back (19%), shoulders (16%), elbow (8%), upper back (8%) and wrist (4%).

Conclusion: WSCs seem to pose a higher postural risk for lower back pain than SACs. Ergonomics interventions and exercise training programmes may be useful to address the poor working posture and musculoskeletal complaints.