title: The effect of chair designs on sitting pressure distribution and tissue perfusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of five chair designs on interface pressure distribution and tissue perfusion in the buttock-thigh region.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Prolonged sitting has been found to contribute to the symptoms of work-related low back pain. Studies have found that chair design affects users' sitting posture and comfort. As sitting applies pressure to the user, it is necessary to investigate how chair design affects sitting pressure and tissue perfusion during sitting.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested five chair designs (Suspension A, Suspension B, Foam A, Foam B, and bicompliant) on 15 young, healthy females. Sitting interface pressure and buttock-thigh tissue perfusion (in terms oftranscutaneous partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide, tcPO2 and tcPCO2, respectively) were measured during 10-min sitting on each chair.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that chair design significantly affected the distribution of the sitting pressure (p < .001) and buttock-thigh tissue perfusion (p < .023). Average pressure and total contact area were found highest in both foam designs, and the average pressure was the lowest in one of the suspension designs. Across all tested chair designs, the anterior portion of the seat sustained the lowest contact pressure. It was also found that tcPO2 was the lowest (p < .003) and tcPCO2 was the highest (p < .001) in tissue around ischial tuberosity for all chair designs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chair design and materials of the seat significantly affect the sitting interface pressure distribution and tissue perfusion in sitting area. Further evaluation of these outcomes may provide useful information to correlate chair design with sitting comfort.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. m-makhsous2@northwestern.edu
authors: Mohsen
authors: M
authors: Makhsous
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Lin
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Hanawalt
authors: Shannon Lynn
authors: SL
authors: Kruger
authors: Angie
authors: A
authors: LaMantia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002081:Buttocks / Q000098:blood supply*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011312:Pressure; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen