The sitting posture of medical college students during examination period

Authors

  • Adnan Abdilmajeed Faraj Department of surgery, Kirkuk Medical school, Kirkuk, Iraq.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15218/zjms.2015.0020

Keywords:

Posture, Students, Medical, Exam, Sitting

Abstract

Background and objective: The posture during sitting has an impact on the incidence of back pain. In this study, an observation of the sitting posture among the medical students during examination period was studied.

Methods: Seventy seven students (F:M, 47:30) with a mean age of 23 years were involved. The type of the seat, height, weight of student, incidence of back pain, sports activities, gender and hand dominancy, in addition to the different types of posture were studied.

Results: Three types of posture were identified; straight, curved with contact to the back of the seat and curved without contact to the back of the seat. Neck side tilt was also observed. It was noticed that, short statured students sit straighter; however neck tilt was commoner in the left handed students. The majority of students adopt unhealthy sitting posture.

Conclusion: Attention has to be paid to the types of the seats made available to students. Seats with adjustable height and a design where there is a curve in the seat accommodating the pelvis would be helpful. Special seats for the left handed should be available. Education and sports activities should be highlighted.   

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Adams M, Bogduk N, Burton K, Dolan P. The Biomechanics of Back Pain. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone 2006, 177-94.

Pynt J, Mackey MG, Higgs J. Kyphosed seated postures: extending concepts of postural health beyond the office. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation 2008; 18:35-45.

McKenzie R , May S.The Lumbar Spine Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy2003.2nd ed. Waikanae, New Zealand: Spinal Publications, 103-20.

Wormersley L, May S. Sitting posture of subjects with postural backache. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2006; 29:213-18.

Harrison DD, Harrison SO, Croft AC, Harrison DE, Troyanovich SJ. Sitting biomechanics part 1: review of the literature. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1999; 22:594-609.

Sitting straight 'bad for backs'. BBC news 2006.

Bakker EWP, Verhagen AP, Lucas C, Koning HJCMF, de Haan RJ, Koes BW.Daily spinal mechanical load as a risk factor for acute non-specific low back pain: a case-control study using the 24-Hour Schedule. European Spine Journal 2007; 16: 107-13.

Christensen ST, Hartvigsen J. Spinal curves and health: a systematic critical review of the epidemiological literature dealing with associations between sagittal spinal curves and health. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2008 ;31:690-714.

Hartvigsen J, Leboeuf-Yde C, Lings S, Corder EH. Is sitting-while-at-work associated with low back pain? A systematic, critical literature review.Scandinavian Journal of Public Health 2000; 28:230-9.

Nachemson A, Vingard E. Influences of individual factors and smoking on neck and low back pain. In: Nachemson A, Jonsson E, editors. Neck and back pain. The scientific evidence of causes, diagnosis, and treatment. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins 2000: 79- 83.

Hoogendoorn WE, Bongers PM, Vet D. Flexion and rotation of the trunk and lifting at work are risk factors for low back pain. Results of a prospective cohort study. 2000;25;3087-92

Dankaerts W, O'Sullivan P, Burnett A, Straker L, Davey P, Gupta R. Discriminating healthy controls and two clinical subgroups of non-specific chronic low back pain patients using trunk muscle activation and lumbosacral kinematics of postures and movements. Spine 2009; 34 ( 15):1610-18. Doi 10.1097/BRS.0603e3181aa6175.

Pengel LHM, Refshauge KM, Maher CG. Responsiveness of pain, disability, and physical impairment outcomes in patients with low back pain. Spine 2004; 29:879-83. Doi 10.1097/00007632-200404150-00011.

Van Deursen LLJM, Snijders CJ, Patijn J. Influence of daily life activities on pain in patients with low back pain. Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine 2002; 24:74-6.

Downloads

Published

2015-08-16

How to Cite

Faraj, A. A. (2015). The sitting posture of medical college students during examination period. Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences (Zanco J Med Sci), 19(2), 980–983. https://doi.org/10.15218/zjms.2015.0020

Issue

Section

Original Articles