Nearly 80 percent of all people in the united states complain of back pain. 1 the center for disease prevention reports that when employees suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders, they can miss an average of 20 work days per year.Cognitive factors in learning psychology the center also reports that the annual cost of such disorders is $45-54 billion. 2 ergonomic seating solutions can minimize these costs and also increase productivity by properly supporting the back and encouraging healthy posture.Cognitive factors in learning psychology

The posture committee of the american academy of orthopedic surgeons defines healthy posture as “skeletal alignment refined as a relative arrangement of the parts of the body in a state of balance that protects the supporting structures of the body against injury or progressive deformity.” 3 researchers in the peer-reviewed medical journal physiotherapy theory and practice furthered this notion, writing, “in sitting, there is no one ideal posture, nor should one posture be sustained.Cognitive factors in learning psychology healthy sitting posture, therefore, is best thought of as an active, not a static phenomenon.” 4

Dr. Brock walker, an expert on musculoskeletal disorders, points out that comfort is a critical aspect of sitting and is completely rooted in a supported posture.Cognitive factors in learning psychology he notes that no one sits in an unsupported position comfortably for very long. Movement is human nature, and moving between supported positions helps the muscular and skeletal systems.Cognitive factors in learning psychology it also helps mental stamina and the ability to concentrate. The neck, shoulder, and back discomfort that accompany a slouched, static posture not only cause physical pains but can also have negative mental effects.Cognitive factors in learning psychology

Sitting, however, is inevitable. Bill stumpf and don chadwick knew this when they combined their deep knowledge of human-centered design, ergonomics, and materials in 1994 to create the classic aeron chair.Cognitive factors in learning psychology the remastering of the aeron chair in 2016 is a prime example of how herman miller, with the help of experts such as dr. Walker, develops chairs using proprietary materials and mechanisms that enable people to experience a healthier seated posture.Cognitive factors in learning psychology made possible by advancements in materials, manufacturing, and technology, the enhanced aeron advances the chair’s ability to reduce pressure points, respond to the body’s micro-movements, and support the sacral and lumbar regions of the spine in order to combat the harmful side effects of prolonged sitting.Cognitive factors in learning psychology

While the original pellicle redistributed pressure on a suspension fabric with uniform tension and material stiffness, the updated version, called 8Z pellicle, has eight specific zones with varying tension and stiffness—four in the seat and four in the backrest. 8Z pellicle improves comfort and performance by targeting specific anatomical zones with different levels of firmness to deliver three physical objectives: support, stabilize, and soften.Cognitive factors in learning psychology

Throughout the seat and backrest, the varied zones engage the body at key locations such as the pelvis and sacrum to carry most of the users’ weight in a healthy seated posture.Cognitive factors in learning psychology the support zones at the top and bottom of the backrest and front and back of the seat deflect the body to encourage a supported posture. The stabilize zones engage the body at its flexible regions, such as the lumbar spine, to assist alignment and still allow healthy movement.Cognitive factors in learning psychology the softened zones engage the body at peak pressure locations such as the sit bones and shoulder blades to relieve pressure points and contour and nest the body.Cognitive factors in learning psychology together the eight zones deliver the performance the body needs to stay active and comfortable throughout the day.

In order to quantitatively examine the differences resulting from the updates to aeron’s pellicle suspension material, herman miller asked the university of michigan transportation research institute (UMTRI) to complete a laboratory study of people sitting in both the classic and enhanced aeron chairs.Cognitive factors in learning psychology herman miller asked UMTRI to use an innovative method to objectively measure the updates to the aeron chair.

UMTRI has been using 3D surface modeling for more than a decade to understand human body shapes and interactions with design.Cognitive factors in learning psychology the team has scanned soldiers in their gear and personal protective equipment to understand their interactions within a combat vehicle. They have also used the method in automotive seating applications.Cognitive factors in learning psychology this was the first time, however, that they applied the technique to task seating.

To measure the effects of the 8Z pellicle, participants with a wide range of body sizes were measured sitting in both upright and reclined positions.Cognitive factors in learning psychology standard measurements of body dimensions were augmented by three-dimensional, whole-body surface scanning of each participant. Researchers measured seat surface pressure and surface contour data of the seat and backrest as participants sat in both the classic and remastered aeron chairs.Cognitive factors in learning psychology

In 2002, herman miller and dr. Walker collaborated on the addition of a patented sacral support device, posturefit, to the classic aeron chair in order to promote natural, unforced spinal alignment and muscle balance.Cognitive factors in learning psychology it does so in any seated position by adjusting to fill the void between the contours of the sacral region and the chair backrest. Although the industry has focused on solving spinal curvature by only supporting the lumbar, healthful spinal alignment starts at the sacrum.Cognitive factors in learning psychology

The remastered aeron offers an advancement in posturefit called posturefit SL. It has adjustable, individual pads that both stabilize the sacrum and support the lumbar region of the spine to provide full spinal stabilization from the base of the sacrum through the upper thoracic region.Cognitive factors in learning psychology because sacral-pelvic dimensions are similar, even across a wide range of body sizes, the sacral pad is equally beneficial for all body types and sizes, without the need for height adjustability.Cognitive factors in learning psychology the lumbar pad similarly doesn’t require height adjustability, as its vertical nature accommodates for a large anthropometric range.