A Practical Method for School Furniture Design to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders among Pupils

Abstract Background: Design of school furniture is one of the contributing factors to back pain among pupils. Research has implicated that mismatch between school furniture and body size may be regarded as a causative factor for muculoskeletal disorders amongst pupils. To investigate the fitness between school furniture and pupils this study was designed and implemented in Hamadan City, west of Iran. Methods: This descriptive study was done on 1580 pupils from 11 to 18 years old including both gen-ders, using cluster sampling. Anthropometrical dimensions including height and weight were measured and demographic data collected. Results: According to ISO 5970 procedure, all studied pupils, divided into four groups. In the first group, including both genders in first grade of secondary school, size 3 was purposed for redesign of school furniture. In the second group, including boys in second and third grade of secondary school, size 4 was purposed for redesign of school furniture. Accordingly, in the third group including girls from second grade of secondary school to end of high school, size 4 was purposed for redesign of school furniture. In forth group including high school boys, size 5 was purposed for redesign of school furniture. Conclusions: Current design of school furniture is not compatible with the pur posed dimensions. In most cases, the same size furniture was in use from secondary schools to high schools.