Page 53 - Petelin, Ana, ur. 2021. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo / Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
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hropometric data of Slovenian older adults relevant gibanje in zdravje starejših odraslih | physical activity and health of the elderly
for ergonomic chair design
Nastja Podrekar Loredan, Dorjana Zerbo Šporin
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, Slovenia
Introduction. Chair is one of the basic pieces of furniture that older adults use
daily. To ensure safe and effective transition from sitting to standing for older
adults, ergonomic chair design is necessary. The basis for ergonomic chair de-
sign are the user’s body dimensions. Anthropometric data of Slovenian old-
er adults, especially for the middle and oldest old, are limited. The aim of this
study was to obtain anthropometric data of Slovenian older adults that can be
used for ergonomic chair design.
Methods. A total of 124 older adults (72% female; 83 ± 8 years old) participat-
ed in the study. Twenty body dimensions were measured manually, using an an-
thropometric set. The 5th and 95th percentiles were calculated for each body
dimension. Anthropometric differences between male and female participants
were calculated using independent-sample t-test. A comparison of mean body
dimension values among Slovenian, Belgian, Australian, Chinese, and Arab old-
er adults was performed.
Results. The mean body mass index of participants was 27.9 ± 4.6 kg/m2. The
5th and 95th percentiles for popliteal height ranged from 35.3 to 45.9 cm, for
thigh thickness from 7.0 to 15.7 cm, for sitting elbow height from 52.0 to 66.3
cm, for sitting shoulder height 63.6 to 56.3 cm, and for hip width from 34.2 to
46.8 cm. Significant differences between Slovenian male and female participants
were recognized for all body dimensions except for shoulder and hip width and
body mass index. Stature and popliteal height of Slovenian and Belgian female
older adults were higher compared to Australian and Chinese female popula-
tion. Thigh thickness and buttock-popliteal length were the smallest in Austral-
ian population whereas shoulder breadth was the smallest in Chinese popula-
tion. Hand length was comparable in all populations.
Discussion and conclusion. Differences between male and female older adults
as well as differences among older adults from different populations indicate a
need for specific chair design based on user’s body dimensions. Data obtained
in this study can be used for the purpose of ergonomic chair design for older
adults in Slovenia. The main limitation of the conducted study is small sample
size of the participants included. Studies that assess anthropometric data in ac-
cordance with SIST EN ISO 7250-1:2018 on a larger sample size are needed to
obtain a representative anthropometric database of older adults in Slovenia.
Keywords: body dimensions, ergonomics, older adults
51
for ergonomic chair design
Nastja Podrekar Loredan, Dorjana Zerbo Šporin
University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, Slovenia
Introduction. Chair is one of the basic pieces of furniture that older adults use
daily. To ensure safe and effective transition from sitting to standing for older
adults, ergonomic chair design is necessary. The basis for ergonomic chair de-
sign are the user’s body dimensions. Anthropometric data of Slovenian old-
er adults, especially for the middle and oldest old, are limited. The aim of this
study was to obtain anthropometric data of Slovenian older adults that can be
used for ergonomic chair design.
Methods. A total of 124 older adults (72% female; 83 ± 8 years old) participat-
ed in the study. Twenty body dimensions were measured manually, using an an-
thropometric set. The 5th and 95th percentiles were calculated for each body
dimension. Anthropometric differences between male and female participants
were calculated using independent-sample t-test. A comparison of mean body
dimension values among Slovenian, Belgian, Australian, Chinese, and Arab old-
er adults was performed.
Results. The mean body mass index of participants was 27.9 ± 4.6 kg/m2. The
5th and 95th percentiles for popliteal height ranged from 35.3 to 45.9 cm, for
thigh thickness from 7.0 to 15.7 cm, for sitting elbow height from 52.0 to 66.3
cm, for sitting shoulder height 63.6 to 56.3 cm, and for hip width from 34.2 to
46.8 cm. Significant differences between Slovenian male and female participants
were recognized for all body dimensions except for shoulder and hip width and
body mass index. Stature and popliteal height of Slovenian and Belgian female
older adults were higher compared to Australian and Chinese female popula-
tion. Thigh thickness and buttock-popliteal length were the smallest in Austral-
ian population whereas shoulder breadth was the smallest in Chinese popula-
tion. Hand length was comparable in all populations.
Discussion and conclusion. Differences between male and female older adults
as well as differences among older adults from different populations indicate a
need for specific chair design based on user’s body dimensions. Data obtained
in this study can be used for the purpose of ergonomic chair design for older
adults in Slovenia. The main limitation of the conducted study is small sample
size of the participants included. Studies that assess anthropometric data in ac-
cordance with SIST EN ISO 7250-1:2018 on a larger sample size are needed to
obtain a representative anthropometric database of older adults in Slovenia.
Keywords: body dimensions, ergonomics, older adults
51
