ABSTRACT
A routine day in the life of most people involves spending a signifi cant amount of time seated, whether it is in a classroom or at work, in a vehicle, or at home. The seat we use is often chosen by chance or availability (classroom, work). In other instances, a seat is chosen based on one’s own personal preference (home). The process of picking the appropriate seat might seem trivial to most people, but when considering that one spends a signifi cant part of the day seated, much thought should
be given to the seat of choice in order to reduce the chances of medical complications associated with prolonged sitting. Several studies have shown that prolonged sitting can increase the risk of developing lower back pain, shoulder pain, and neck pain. These musculoskeletal disorders are frequent causes of sick leave that lead to the loss of millions of work days every year (Kvarnstrom, 1983; Johanning, 2000; Morken et al., 2003; Cagnie et al., 2007; Krismer et al., 2007).
