The influence of users anthropometrical dimensions on the pressures while sitting in office chairs

The aim of this research was to see the trends and material acting under influence of different loads and other anthropometric factors of subjects. Efforts were made to establish how much and to what extent body mass index (BMI) can serve as a variable in similar measurements and how reliable it is. The goal of the research is to establish the dependence of pressures on the human constitution and gender. The measurements were conducted on three different chair models (framed net, cold-casted PU foam and PU foam) and in a way that the ten subjects sat on a chair covered with the pressure mat. The results were analyzed in regard to the anthropometric characteristics of the subjects and the construction of the seat and they were compared with the results of the former subjective research conducted with the same seat constructions. The results of the subjective measurements show that the assessment according to the seat upholstery material as well as the answers to the question: Do you feel comfortable?, equal the results of the previous research. In the objective measurements, higher peak pressures occur with men in absolute amounts and the value of the highest pressurein sitting position grows with the increase of the body mass index. The peak pressures were lower with women than with men, but as the body mass index grew these pressures got lower.