Postural Variability in Sitting: Comparing Comfortable, Habitual, and Correct Strategies Across Chairs
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Prolonged sitting is linked to musculoskeletal discomfort, yet optimal sitting posture remains poorly defined, and the consistency with which individuals reproduce specific sitting strategies is unclear. This study examined postural variability across three...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Yi-Lang Chen Li-Peng Zhang |
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| description | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Prolonged sitting is linked to musculoskeletal discomfort, yet optimal sitting posture remains poorly defined, and the consistency with which individuals reproduce specific sitting strategies is unclear. This study examined postural variability across three sitting strategies—comfortable, habitual, and correct—using three common chair types: a stool, computer chair, and ergonomic chair. <b>Methods:</b> Thirty healthy young adults (fifteen men, fifteen women) participated. Global sagittal joint angles—head inclination (HI), trunk angle (TA), and knee angle (KA)—were measured using a motion analysis system across five repetitions per condition. <b>Results:</b> The chair type significantly influenced HI and TA (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with ergonomic chairs encouraging more upright trunk postures. The sitting strategy significantly affected TA and KA (<i>p</i> < 0.01), with comfortable sitting associated with more extended angles. Women exhibited greater TA (114.8° vs. 109.0°, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and lower within-subject variability. Substantial postural variability was observed across all conditions, with mean ranges exceeding minimum detectable change thresholds for HI (10.3°), TA (6.9°), and KA (11.3°). Notably, correct sitting reduced KA variability compared to other strategies (<i>p</i> < 0.01). <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings highlight the individualized and variable nature of sitting posture, even under controlled instructions. The results question the reliability of memory-based seat adjustments and emphasize the need for dynamic, user-centered ergonomic design and personalized clinical guidance to support musculoskeletal health. |
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| institution | OA Journals |
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| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-1b100e4808c840cb9afe2cb252946b602025-08-20T02:35:47ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-06-011513723910.3390/app15137239Postural Variability in Sitting: Comparing Comfortable, Habitual, and Correct Strategies Across ChairsYi-Lang Chen0Li-Peng Zhang1Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei 243303, TaiwanDepartment of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei 243303, Taiwan<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Prolonged sitting is linked to musculoskeletal discomfort, yet optimal sitting posture remains poorly defined, and the consistency with which individuals reproduce specific sitting strategies is unclear. This study examined postural variability across three sitting strategies—comfortable, habitual, and correct—using three common chair types: a stool, computer chair, and ergonomic chair. <b>Methods:</b> Thirty healthy young adults (fifteen men, fifteen women) participated. Global sagittal joint angles—head inclination (HI), trunk angle (TA), and knee angle (KA)—were measured using a motion analysis system across five repetitions per condition. <b>Results:</b> The chair type significantly influenced HI and TA (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with ergonomic chairs encouraging more upright trunk postures. The sitting strategy significantly affected TA and KA (<i>p</i> < 0.01), with comfortable sitting associated with more extended angles. Women exhibited greater TA (114.8° vs. 109.0°, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and lower within-subject variability. Substantial postural variability was observed across all conditions, with mean ranges exceeding minimum detectable change thresholds for HI (10.3°), TA (6.9°), and KA (11.3°). Notably, correct sitting reduced KA variability compared to other strategies (<i>p</i> < 0.01). <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings highlight the individualized and variable nature of sitting posture, even under controlled instructions. The results question the reliability of memory-based seat adjustments and emphasize the need for dynamic, user-centered ergonomic design and personalized clinical guidance to support musculoskeletal health.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7239sitting posturechair typesitting strategypostural variabilityergonomic designjoint angle |
| spellingShingle | Yi-Lang Chen Li-Peng Zhang Postural Variability in Sitting: Comparing Comfortable, Habitual, and Correct Strategies Across Chairs Applied Sciences sitting posture chair type sitting strategy postural variability ergonomic design joint angle |
| title | Postural Variability in Sitting: Comparing Comfortable, Habitual, and Correct Strategies Across Chairs |
| title_full | Postural Variability in Sitting: Comparing Comfortable, Habitual, and Correct Strategies Across Chairs |
| title_fullStr | Postural Variability in Sitting: Comparing Comfortable, Habitual, and Correct Strategies Across Chairs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Postural Variability in Sitting: Comparing Comfortable, Habitual, and Correct Strategies Across Chairs |
| title_short | Postural Variability in Sitting: Comparing Comfortable, Habitual, and Correct Strategies Across Chairs |
| title_sort | postural variability in sitting comparing comfortable habitual and correct strategies across chairs |
| topic | sitting posture chair type sitting strategy postural variability ergonomic design joint angle |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7239 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yilangchen posturalvariabilityinsittingcomparingcomfortablehabitualandcorrectstrategiesacrosschairs AT lipengzhang posturalvariabilityinsittingcomparingcomfortablehabitualandcorrectstrategiesacrosschairs |