Preliminary communication
Orchestra chairs as a significant factors of applied ergonomics
Ladislav Krapac
; Croatian Academy of Medical Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Tajana Stamenković
; NADO Policlinic, Zagreb, Croatia
Mislav Pap
; University Medical Centre Zagreb, Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Professional musicians are subjected to intense physical stress during their playing, which endangers their health, often in non- physiological positions, but also to the unwanted consequences of excessive and irregular sitting. The aim of the research was to evaluate the appropriateness of professional musicians' working chairs as an important factor in the conditions in which they work. Participants: There were 50 of 77 (65%) permanent musicians of the symphony orchestra, which encouraged this research, predominantly women (33 or 66% of respondents), aged 24 to 62, with a total duration of 1 to 38 years. Methods: The assessment of the suitability of the orchestra chairs was made by a questionnaire of 8 questions: total chair rating, rating of the backrest, sill surface, slip slope, fabrication material,
and chair stability. Results: Only 6 (12%) of the respondents were satisfied with the chair, and the bad ones were rated by 8 (16%), while 35 (70%) considered them very poor. The most frequent comments were on the sloping slope of the sitting surface (84%), followed by the remarks on the backrest (82%), seat surface (80%) and fabrication material (76%), chair stability (68%). The younger musicians were more likely to comment on the chair, while the older were less cooperative. Conclusion: The results of this research point to the useful collaboration of scientists and musicians which should be continued by following the ergonomic issues of the workplace of professional musicians, and by applying a multidisciplinary approach.
Keywords
professional musicians; orchestrachairs; prevention; applied ergonomy
Hrčak ID:
195090
URI
Publication date:
6.3.2018.
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