Changes in the body shape and ergonomic compatibility for functional dimensions of desks and chairs for students in Harbin during 2010-2024
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025087
- VernacularTitle:哈尔滨市2010—2024年学生身体形态变化及课桌椅功能尺寸适配性研究
- Author:
XU Yi, ZHANG Xiaoyan, SHI Keqing, YU Xinran, GAO Fei, DONG Bin, GUAN Yongbin, YANG Guang, QIAO Wanying, ZHOU Ding, ZHANG Jie, LI Dongxin, FAN Lili, WANG Yijun, WANG Jia
1
Author Information
1. Department of Children and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin (150081) , Heilongjiang Province, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Desk and chair;
Physical examination;
Adaptation,biological;
Students
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2025;46(3):315-320
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To analyze the change trends in the body shape indicators and proportions of students in Harbin from 2010 to 2024, and to investigate ergonomic compatibility of functional dimensions of school desks and chairs with current student shape indicators, so as to provide a reference for revising furniture standards of desks and chairs.
Methods:Between September and November of both 2010 and 2024, a combination of convenience sampling and stratified cluster random sampling was conducted across three districts in Harbin, yielding samples of 6 590 and 6 252 students, respectively. Anthropometric shape indicators cluding height, sitting height, crus length, and thigh length-and their proportional changes were compared over the 15-year period. The 2024 data were compared with current standard functional dimensions of school furniture. The statistical analysis incorporated t-test and Mann-Whitney U- test.
Results:From 2010 to 2024, average height increased by 1.8 cm for boys and 1.5 cm for girls; sitting height increased by 1.5 cm for both genders; crus length increased by 0.3 cm for boys and 0.4 cm for girls; and thigh length increased by 0.5 cm for both genders. The ratios of sitting height to height, and sitting height to leg length increased by less than 0.1 . The difference between desk chair height and 1/3 sitting height ranged from 0.4-0.8 cm. Among students matched with size 0 desks and chairs, 22.0% had a desk to chair height difference less than 0, indicating that the desk to chair height difference might be insufficient for taller students. The differences between seat height and fibular height ranged from -1.4 to 1.1 cm; and the differences between seat depth and buttock popliteal length ranged from -9.8 to 3.4 cm. Among obese students, the differences between seat width and 1/2 hip circumference ranged from -20.5 to -8.7 cm, while it ranged from -12.2 to -3.8 cm among non obese students.
Conclusion:Current furniture standards basically satisfy hygienic requirements; however, in the case of exceptionally tall and obese students, ergonomic accommodations such as adaptive seating allocation or personalized adjustments are recommended to meet hygienic requirements.
