title: The working postures among schoolchildren--a controlled intervention study on the effects of newly designed workstations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  School workstations are often inappropriate in not offering an optimal sitting posture. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of individually adjustable saddle-type chairs with wheels and desks with comfort curve and arm support on schoolchildren's working postures compared to conventional workstations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven participants aged 12-16 years were followed for 1 year, 47 at an intervention school and 50 at a control school. Anthropometrics and workstation dimensions were measured and working postures analyzed for a part of each group (n = 21, both groups) by means of video recording at baseline, before new workstations were introduced, and during follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant increase in upright back (p= .012) and neck (p= .019) postures in the intervention group compared to controls during follow-up. The saddle-type chairs allowed significantly greater trunk-thigh angles (p < .001) among participants than conventional chairs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In schoolchildren, using individually adjustable saddle-type chairs and desks with comfort curve, a better match between workstations and anthropometric dimensions and improved working postures are obtained than using conventional workstations.
authors: School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Medisiinarinkatu 3, Tampere 33014, Finland. lea.saarni@uta.fi
authors: Lea
authors: L
authors: Saarni
authors: Clas-Håkan
authors: CH
authors: Nygård
authors: Arja
authors: A
authors: Rimpelä
authors: Tapio
authors: T
authors: Nummi
authors: Anneli
authors: A
authors: Kaukiainen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D013334:Students