1. ERGONOMICS OF SEATING DR. FATIMA ZEHRA (Physical Therapist) School of Physiotherapy, IPMR Dow University of Health Sciences

2.  The act of providing or furnishing with a seat or seats.  The human body designed to move. One of the most important aspects of a good sitting habit is movement.  The best chair design in the world will not force good posture, it prevents the need for the human body to move.  Up to 50% of MSDs  Lifetime risk - 80% of people DEFINITION

3.  Energy – sitting requires 20% less energy than standing  Efficiency - if supported and reclined, intradiscal pressure is less than that for erect standing.  Effectiveness - sitting increases postural stability for fine motor tasks.  Equality – sitting reduces anthropometric variability  Over 50% are low-back injuries. Poor chair design contributes to poor seated posture which plays a major role in these injuries WHY WE NEED TO SIT

4.  Frequent heavy lifting  Poor posture  Static sitting RISK FACTORS

5. There are three factors that will directly influence your sitting posture:  vision  reach  postural support FACTORS EFFECTING SEATING

6. The following are some guidelines to evaluate proper chair adjustment and fit:  Adjust the height Feet should rest comfortably on the floor or, if necessary, should be supported by a footrest. knees should be at a level equal to or slightly lower than the hips. Adjust the chair height to attain a natural curve of the spine and optimize the comfort of lower back. If the chair is too low, the lower back will flatten or round out. If the chair is too high the back will be unsupported. Circulation to the lower leg can also be compromised if the chair is too high. GUIDELINES OF SEATING

8.  Check the length of the seat pan  There should be 2-3 inches between the back of leg and the seat of the chair. This will allow for a natural bend knees. If the seat pan is too short, it can create pressure points and discomfort in the back of the thigh. If the seat pan is too long, you will not be able to sit back in the chair.  Lumbar pillows can also be used as a method to improve the fit of a seat pan that is too long.

10.  Adjust the seat pan and backrest angles  If the chair has seat pan and backrest angle adjustment, adjust the angle of each to support work activities.  The chair should support an upright position for keyboard activities. If chair rocks, consider adjusting the tension to support upright postures for computer and desktop activities.

12.  Adjust the lumbar support The curve of the backrest should support the natural curve of your back. You should not feel too arched, nor should you feel unsupported. If your chair does not provide sufficient lumbar support, you might be able to use a lumbar pillow or towel roll to improve the fit.

14.  Adjust the armrests  Armrests, should adjust to match elbow height when the elbows are relaxed at sides.  If armrests are too long or too high, they will interfere with proper keyboarding position. The armrests should allow to keep elbows relaxed at sides and should not interfere with access to the work surface  If armrests do not adjust for proper fit, consider removing them.

16.  Ergonomics for the Therapist by Karen Jacobs 3 rd edition.  Articles on ergonomics REFERENCES