Abstract
An office chair was developed to reduce leg swelling, which 90% of female VDT workers suffer from. Seat shape with forward incline part was proposed for short height female office workers who raise their seats depending on standard table height. The most comfortable forward incline position and angle were searched during VDT work in an upright trunk posture which is often seen in female office workers, by using an experimental chair with 16 divided plates. Leg swelling was measured using the bioelectrical impedance method. As a result, the seat shape with 15 degrees inclination from 20mm forward of gluteal furrow could reduce leg swelling and avoid discomfort in lower thigh and buttocks. Leg swelling, table/floor reaction and typing efficiency (speed, accuracy rate) of 10 female subjects during 1-hour VDT work were measured by using seat prototype with proposed seat shape and commercially offered chair. Seat prototype decreased leg swelling without increasing burden to arm and leg, and did not reduce working efficiency.
