Mismatch between workstation and body dimensions among computer users in Ibadan, Nigeria Adegoke Babatunde O. A.1, Jegede Joseph A.2, Olagbegi Oladapo M.3,*, Nadasan Thayananthee4, Christie Candice J.5 1Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria 2Chief Physiotherapist, Department of Physiotherapy, Federal Medical Centre, OwoOndo State, Nigeria 3Postdoctoral Fellow, Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa. 4Senior Lecturer, Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa. 5Associate Professor, Department of Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa. *Corresponding Author: Dr. Oladapo Michael Olagbegi Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, 4000, South Africa, Mobile: +27789006261 e-mail: olagbegioladapo@yahoo.com; OlagbegiO@ukzn.ac.za
Online published on 4 April, 2020. Abstract This study investigated user-furniture (chairs and tables) compatibility among computer users in Ibadan, Nigeria. Participants were 95 male and 105 female computer users. Participants’ anthropometric variables and their workstation furniture were measured using a broad blade anthropometer and a metallic tape respectively. Male participants had significantly higher (p < 0.05) popliteal height, knee height, buttock popliteal length and eye height than the females. User-furniture mismatches in sitting elbow height/table top height (male: 100%, female: 100%), popliteal height/seat height (male: 68.75%, female: 86.54%), buttockpopliteal length/seat length (male: 53.13%, female: 50%) and knee height/table bottom height (male: 9.38%, female: 5.77%) relationships were observed among the participants. Popliteal height/seat height mismatch was significantly associated (p=0.002) with gender. Computer users’ workstation furniture may be designed with adjustable heights using different percentiles of users’ anthropometric dimensions to minimize the incidence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among computer users. Top Keywords Mismatch, Workstation, Body dimension, Computer users, Ibadan, Nigeria. Top |