A new car seat design, which allows the back part of the seat (BPS) to lower down while a protruded cushion supports the lumbar spine, was quantitatively tested to determine its effectiveness and potentials in reducing whole-body vibration (WBV) and musculoskeletal disorders in automobile drivers. Nine subjects were tested to drive with the seat in: 1) the conventional seating arrangement (Norm...

PURPOSE We reviewed research on the effect of adaptive seating on sitting posture/postural control in children with cerebral palsy. Second, we examined whether changes in postural control related to changes in other aspects of functioning. METHODS Electronic database/hand searches were undertaken to locate studies published in English. Reviewers screened studies for inclusion criteria, extrac...

BACKGROUND Musical performance-associated musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a common health problem among professional musicians. Considering the manifold consequences arising for the musicians, they can be seen as a threat for their professional activity. String players are the most affected group of musicians in this matter. Faults in upper body posture while playing the instrument, causing...

Increasing numbers of people spend the majority of their working lives seated in an office chair. Musculoskeletal disorders, in particular low back pain, resulting from prolonged static sitting are ubiquitous, but regularly changing sitting position throughout the day is thought to reduce back problems. Nearly all currently available office chairs offer the possibility to alter the backrest rec...

Physiological changes occur with change of posture. Seating imposes significant effect on the cardiovascular, respiratory, abdominal, renal and neurological systems. The presence of severe skeletal deformities can significantly alter the physiological responses of the individual to changes in posture. In the case of severe kyphoscoliosis profound haemodynamic changes may occur. Lung perfusion h...

SUMMARY For 30 years or so specialists in wheelchair seating services in the developed world have captured many thousands of shapes (contours) in various forms for custom seating systems. The predominant methodology employs a plaster casting technique and as a result, shape information is often retained in the plaster cast, therefore has not been measured and may well not be recoverable over ti...

Individuals who cannot functionally reposition themselves often need dynamic seating interventions that change body posture from automatic chair adjustments. Pelvis alignment directly affects sitting posture, and systems that adjust and monitor pelvis angle simultaneously might be applicable to control body posture in sitting. The present study explores whether it is feasible to monitor pelvis ...

Within the past 10 years, technology has provided members of the seating team with new approaches in dealing with severely physically disabled children and adults. Positioning is often the first step in overall provision of technical aids. Before physically disabled individuals can operate augmentative communication devices, computer keyboards or other assistive or rehabilitative devices, they ...