Effects of differences in office chair controls, seat and backrest angle design in relation to tasks

Effects of differences in office chair controls, seat and backrest angle design in relation to tasks

Groenesteijn, L.
Vink, P.
de Looze, M.P.
Krause, F.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven

2009

In this study the influence of chair characteristics on comfort, discomfort, adjustment time and seat interface pressure is investigated during VDU and non-VDU tasks: The two investigated office chairs, both designed according to European and Dutch standards are different regarding: 1) seat cushioning and shape, 2) backrest angle and 3) controls. Thirty subjects in total, both male and female, participated in two experiments: twenty in the first and ten in the second. Significant differences are found for ease of adjustment and adjustment time of controls, independent of the tasks. Related to tasks, a significant difference was found for the backrest range of motion. For non-VDU tasks a larger range of backrest motion was preferred by 70% of the subjects. The chair design differences were most clear for comfort and adjustment time of controls, followed by comfort of backrest angle. No differences are found between seat pan comfort and discomfort, first impressions and peak interface pressure. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ergonomics
Arbeidsproductiviteit
(Dis)comfort
Office chair
Pressure distribution
Tasks
Design
Backrest angles
Design differences
Interface pressures
Range of motions
Time of controls
VDU
Automobile seats

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:a0762acd-8840-4324-be2c-f548ffedc7ce

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2008.11.011

241529

0003-6870

Applied Ergonomics, 40 (3), 362-370

article