Relationship between anthropometric variables and dimensions of the desks used by college students

Abstract

The aim of this study was to verify whether the desks used by physical therapy students at Federal University of Paraiba were suitable to their anthropometric variables. One hundred and ten volunteers took part in
the study (24 men and 86 women, aged 21.9±2.2 years old, with body mass of 57.3±10.0 kg). Anthropometric data (height, thorax width, pelvis width, popliteal height, and buttocks-popliteal length) were collected by photogrammetry using Digita software. The desks were classified into four types and had their measures collected (seat height, width and depth, and back width, distance to seat, and inclination). Data were analysed by using anthropometric measures descriptive statistics (average, standard deviation, and 5, 10, 50, 90 and 95 percentiles). By drawing on dimensions recommended by literature, results point out that these desks are inadequate to the students; thus suggesting the adoption of furniture with dimensions adjustable to users.