Legg S J, Mackie H W, Milicich W
Centre for Ergonomics, Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Human Resource Management, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Ergonomics. 2002 Feb 10;45(2):153-63. doi: 10.1080/00140130110120042.
Office chairs have often been designed to promote a single 'correct' rather rigid and upright posture, yet it is acknowledged that allowing changes in posture is good ergonomics practice. The present study investigated office worker's preferences for a standard shaped typist's chair (ST) and a prototype multi-posture (PMP) office chair designed to allow its users a variety of sitting positions. Forty-two (22 male and 20 female) telesales personnel (12), clerical staff (12) and researchers (18) used ST or PMP in their workplace for the first week of a 2-week study (with an even number in each work area). The PMP chair was introduced to participants with a brief lecture on how to use it and with an information booklet. Following this, each participant completed a chair comfort questionnaire. In the second week, participants swapped chairs and again completed the chair comfort questionnaire. At the end of the second week participants were also asked to complete a separate questionnaire about the usability of the information booklet that accompanied the PMP chair. Statistically significant differences in subject's rating of the two chairs were observed in 7 out of 19 questions. On a 100 mm scale, the ST chair was rated as having a greater mean overall acceptability, desirability and suitability for body build than the PMP chair. Participants also claimed to achieve better posture in the ST chair, that they tipped forward less and were more satisfied with its width. Although the participants generally preferred the ST chair, the PMP chair received more favourable ratings among the researchers who were quite mobile in their work, and in whom there was a trend for less neck, shoulder and upper back discomfort. More participants reported an overall preference for the PMP chair. The findings suggest that a more aesthetically acceptable PMP chair should be developed, peoples' reasons for preferring a more traditionally designed chair should be explored, and that the effect of postural stability education on personal preconceptions should be examined to obtain an optimal combination of healthy sitting habits, comfort and aesthetic qualities in an office chair.
办公椅常常被设计成能促进单一的“正确”姿势，这种姿势相当僵硬且笔直，然而人们公认允许姿势变化才是良好的人体工程学做法。本研究调查了办公室职员对标准形状的打字员椅（ST）和一款原型多姿势（PMP）办公椅的偏好，后者旨在让使用者有多种坐姿。42名（22名男性和20名女性）电话销售人员（12名）、文职人员（12名）和研究人员（18名）在为期2周的研究的第一周在工作场所使用ST或PMP（每个工作区域人数均等）。向参与者介绍PMP椅时，会有关于如何使用它的简短讲座，并提供一本信息手册。在此之后，每位参与者完成一份椅子舒适度问卷。在第二周，参与者交换椅子，再次完成椅子舒适度问卷。在第二周结束时，还要求参与者完成一份关于随PMP椅附带的信息手册可用性的单独问卷。在19个问题中的7个问题上，观察到受试者对两款椅子的评分存在统计学上的显著差异。在100毫米的量表上，ST椅在总体可接受性、合意性和对体型的适合性方面的平均评分高于PMP椅。参与者还声称在ST椅上能保持更好的姿势，向前倾的程度更小，并且对其宽度更满意。尽管参与者总体上更喜欢ST椅，但PMP椅在工作中相当活跃的研究人员中获得了更有利的评分，而且这些研究人员颈部、肩部和上背部不适的趋势较小。更多参与者报告总体上更喜欢PMP椅。研究结果表明，应该开发一款在美学上更可接受的PMP椅，探究人们更喜欢传统设计椅子的原因，并且应该研究姿势稳定性教育对个人先入之见的影响，以便在办公椅中获得健康坐姿习惯、舒适度和美学品质的最佳组合。
