| The word "ergonomic" is rapidly becoming a | | | | forth, tilting forward, tilting backward - levers for |
| major buzzword in the classroom chair market. | | | | height, armrests, seat tilt, back angle - and all this |
| The growing awareness of the need for | | | | on casters? Discipline is tough enough as it is. |
| classroom chairs that support proper sitting habits | | | | So now that we've ruled out the utopian possibility |
| and good posture has led manufacturers to | | | | of completely ergonomic classroom chairs in our |
| market more and more products that are, in their | | | | schools, is there anything administrators can do to |
| words, "ergonomic." Sounds good, right? Be | | | | see that their students are provided with the |
| careful. If all that glitters is not gold, then you can | | | | utmost possible in ergonomic seating? |
| be sure that all the glittering "ergonomic" | | | | Yes, actually, there is. And it doesn't cost an arm |
| terminology doesn't necessarily mean that all | | | | and a leg, either. |
| those classroom chairs are truly ergonomic. | | | | The first thing schools can do is supply classroom |
| What is an ergonomic classroom chair, anyway? | | | | chairs of varying heights for each grade. Studies |
| Good question. | | | | have shown that a large percentage of students |
| Many people assume the word "ergonomic" is a | | | | are sitting in chairs that are either too high or too |
| synonym for comfortable. Not so. Not all | | | | low for their height. This leads to feet dangling in |
| classroom chairs - or any other chair, for that | | | | the air - which increases back pressure - or, on |
| matter - that are comfortable are by definition | | | | the other hand, to a crunching of the knee area |
| ergonomic. According to Webster's Medical | | | | which enforces bad posture as well as a |
| Dictionary, ergonomics are defined as "an applied | | | | constricting of the leg muscles. If schools have |
| science concerned with the characteristics of | | | | classroom chairs available in a number of different |
| people that need to be considered in designing | | | | heights, then a major problem of student-chair |
| things that they use in order that people and | | | | mismatch will be solved. |
| things will interact most effectively and safely." | | | | Once the height issue is resolved, schools can |
| Taking that definition to its natural conclusion, | | | | provide seat and/or back cushions. Ideally, a |
| ergonomic classroom chairs would refer to a | | | | physical education teacher - or anyone else with |
| classroom chair that enables students to sit in a | | | | the requisite know-how - would go around the |
| manner that eliminates (or at least relieves) | | | | school during the first month or so of the year, |
| musculoskeletal stress, and therefore helps them | | | | and help each student adjust the cushioning to |
| to learn more effectively. | | | | allow his or her classroom chair to provide the |
| That might sound simple, but it is most definitely | | | | maximum leg and back support possible. This |
| not. Each and every student is built differently. | | | | would go a long way toward alleviating |
| Even people of the same height have different | | | | musculoskeletal pressure points. |
| needs - some have longer legs, some shorter, | | | | Another contributing factor towards good |
| back structure differs, etc. So in order for | | | | classroom chairs is actually the school desk. Even |
| classroom chairs to be really and truly ergonomic, | | | | if students have height-appropriate classroom |
| they would have to be not only ergonomically | | | | chairs with proper cushioning, it isn't going to help |
| designed in terms of shape, but also completely | | | | them too much if their legs don't clear the top of |
| adjustable - height, seat tilt, back tilt, armrests - | | | | the desk and they have to either stretch them |
| the works. | | | | out or squish them to the side. The solution, again, |
| Such chairs do exist, of course. You see them all | | | | is to ensure they are height adjustable. There is a |
| the time in office settings. Secretaries, | | | | wide variety of height-adjustable student desks to |
| receptionists, computer technicians and even | | | | choose from, and they can fit into any school |
| CEO's use them as a matter of course. It has | | | | budget. This is definitely worth the investment, as |
| been obvious for a long time now that people in | | | | putting time and effort into the ergonomics of |
| these capacities, who have to sit for long periods | | | | classroom chairs while ignoring the desks is |
| of time - much of it in front of a computer - | | | | something akin to purchasing a top-of-the-line |
| absolutely must have chairs that will provide | | | | computer and then not bothering to invest in a |
| proper musculoskeletal support. If not, they might | | | | good quality anti-virus program. |
| suffer from chronic back pain, headaches, stiff | | | | Lastly, while the ideal of total classroom |
| necks, shoulder pain and a host of other problems. | | | | ergonomics might still be out of reach, there are |
| And what about our students? | | | | ergonomic features schools can look for when |
| Students sit in classroom chairs for close to 80% | | | | purchasing standard classroom chairs. While they |
| of their time. Much of that time is spent reading | | | | may not seem significant, these features can |
| and writing, as well as in front of computers. In | | | | make a big difference in helping students sit in as |
| addition, students age 18 and lower are even | | | | healthy a way as possible: |
| more susceptible to chronic musculoskeletal | | | | *Waterfall-front seats - These are seats that |
| disorders than adults, since their bodies are still in | | | | slope downwards (like the shape of a waterfall) at |
| the development stage. | | | | the edge of the seat, under the knee area. |
| Well, if that's the case, why don't we provide all | | | | *Lumbar support - Lumbar, or lower back |
| our students with truly ergonomic classroom | | | | support, is an important feature in ergonomic |
| chairs? | | | | seating. This usually presents itself as a curve in |
| There are any number of honest answers to that | | | | the back of the chair, just above the point where |
| question, many of which are beyond the scope of | | | | the back and seat come together. It is designed |
| this article. But two main factors are worth | | | | to provide support where the lower back needs it |
| pointing out. | | | | most - at the bottom curve of the spine. |
| The first answer is - no surprise here - budget. In | | | | *Flexible back - Look for chairs that have some |
| order to provide each student with classroom | | | | "give" in the back. This enables students to lean |
| chairs that are 100% ergonomic, schools would | | | | back a bit when they feel the need, alleviating leg |
| have to pay a lot of money as opposed to the | | | | and back pressure. |
| cost of about $21.00 for a good quality, standard | | | | Looking for classroom chairs that provide the |
| classroom chair, and it's not hard to see why | | | | greatest number of ergonomic features will |
| schools simply cannot afford to invest in | | | | benefit your students in more ways than one. |
| classroom chairs that are completely ergonomic. | | | | And it's not as hard as you think. There are |
| The second answer, while perhaps less compelling | | | | classroom chairs out there, such as the Inspiration |
| than the first, is still a real concern. It can be hard | | | | chair by Hertz Furniture, that have all these |
| enough to hold students' concentration while | | | | features and then some. Together with the rest |
| they're sitting in standard classroom chairs. Can | | | | of the suggestions offered here, your students |
| you imagine what a teacher's nightmare it could | | | | will not only be sitting better - they'll be |
| be if students were seated on classroom chairs | | | | concentrating and listening better, too. |
| with all those gizmos? Up and down, back and | | | | |