Predicting and quantifying seated comfort while using two different seat cushioning materials

Abstract

Background: Adequate chair design and comfort are essential to the educational environment. Aim: The current study investigated the effect of cushion characteristics on student comfort during class time, aiming to increase the students' comfort and positively affect their academic gain. Material and methods: Thirty-nine volunteer female students participated in this study. Two types of foam were used; the first type was characterized by a density of 25kg/m3, hard, and elasticity of 80.15 N/cm2. The second type was characterized by a 26kg/m3 density, softness, and elasticity of 26.081 N/cm2.The dimensions used for the cushions of both types of foam were 40cm*40cm for both the seat pan cushion and back support cushion, a thickness of 8 cm for the seat pane cushion, and 4cmfor the back support. The body part discomfort scale and Comfort and discomfort scale were used for assessment after using the cushions for one and a half hours. Results:The results revealed that general comfort and body part comfort were not different when comparing both cushions. On the other hand, the intensity of pain in the body part discomfort significantly increased when using hard cushioning. Conclusion:Cushion hardness did not affect the subjective sensation of comfort and discomfort, while a hard cushion may cause pain in certain body parts during use.