A Comparison of Sitting Posture Adaptations of Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Females
Resource
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ERGONOMICS v.23 n.5-6 pp.391-396
Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ERGONOMICS
Journal Volume
v.23
Journal Issue
n.5-6
Pages
391-396
Date Issued
1999
Date
1999
Author(s)
LEE, YUNG-HUI
TSUANG, YANG-HWEI
Abstract
The postural differences between seated pregnant and non- pregnant subjects were studied, and the effects of various sitting workstation designs were assessed. Five pregnant and five non-pregnant subjects participated in this study. The experimental variables were the table- chair-vertical- distance (35 cm and 30 cm) and the seat-inclination-angle (0 degrees, + 10 degrees and + 20 degrees). The seated working postures of the last 10 min of a 50-min sitting session were videotaped and analyzed using a 2D motion analysis system. Postural differences were observed between the pregnant and non-pregnant groups which may be attributed to the changes and/or mechanisms associated with pregnancy. The increased size of the abdomen requires more room in front of the body; in the pregnant subjects this was obtained by holding the upper-arm further from the body, inclining the upper trunk more anterior, and extending the hip more. A seat with a sloping angle of 10 degrees was found to reduce the biomechanical loading on the lower back and in subjective ratings from both groups, was preferred over the other seat angles.
Subjects
pregnant women
seated workstation
sitting posture