The relationship between chair dimensions and musculoskeletal disorders among female students in one academic branch

Background: Individuals, who spend most of their time sitting, are at 30% more risk of suffering from lumbar disc than other people. One of the causes of pain in the lumbar region is musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). MSDs are the most common and most costly injuries in occupational, administrative, and academic environments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between chair dimensions and the prevalence of MSDs in female students. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic and cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 female students of Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran. Dimensions of chairs (width and length of chair seat, backrest length, and etc.) were measured using a tape measure and goniometer. Lordosis and kyphosis were evaluated using a Gravity line. Data were analyzed using chi-square test. All p values of less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: The subjects’ mean age was 27.12 years and 50% of the subjects had normal BMI. There was no significant relationship between ergonomic dimensions of chairs and kyphosis abnormality (P < 0.05). There was a significant relationship between lordosis abnormality and height of backrest (P = 0.04), seat to ground height (P = 0.04), seat width (P = 0.02), height of armrest (P = 0.04), and armrest to seat height (P = 0.04). Conclusions: According to the results, the dimensions of chairs that were used in the university were not favorable. This could lead to the presentation of some MSDs. It is recommended that the anthropometric dimensions of the consumer society be considered before the purchasing of chairs.