A Preliminary Report on Musculoskeletal Pains and Discomfort Among Indian School Children Due to Mismatch Between Anthropometric Measurements and Classroom Furniture

Abstract

AbstractPurpose: Per day, children spend considerable time sitting on classroom furniture used in their schools. The objective of the present study was to determine whether classroom furniture is designed according to anthropometric measurements of its users. Methods: 120 school children (11–14 years) of grade VI, VII and VIII of government and private-sponsored schools in Malwa region of Punjab were randomly selected for the study. The anthropometric measurements of participants (popliteal height, buttock-popliteal length, hip breadth, elbow height from floor, elbow to elbow length in sitting, and bideltoid breadth in sitting, eye height from the floor in sitting and maximum horizontal distance between calf and thigh) and classroom furniture measurements were taken. Results: A significant difference (p < 0.05) was found among mean values of anthropometric measurements of participants belonging to grades sixth to eighth; however, no significant difference was found between the classroom furniture measurements used in grades sixth to eighth (p > 0.05). >80% variance was found between anthropometric measurements of participants and classroom furniture, with > 40% of total participants complaining of musculoskeletal pains and discomfort. Conclusion: There is need to upgrade classroom furniture in schools of Punjab; in Malwa region, classroom furniture should be designed according to anthropometric measurements of its users in order to ensure comfort and enhance student’s learning activities.KeywordsMusculoskeletal pain and discomfortGenderErgonomicsPunjabClassroom furniture designingSchoolsLearning activities