Effects of Aircraft Seat Pitch on Interface Pressure and Passenger Discomfort

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ali S ; Harris Adamson C ; Li Q-Q ; Li W-H ; Yu S-H ; Zhao C
• Description:
  Seat pitch, defined as the distance from a point on the back of one seat to the same point on the seat in front, is one of the most important factors influencing aircraft seating comfort. This study assessed the influence of different airline seat pitches on subjective ratings of discomfort and body-seat interface contact pressures. This was a laboratory within-subjects study using an aircraft interior mock up to vary seat pitch. Twelve participants completed 1 h of sitting in each of five different seat pitches (28inches, 30inches, 32inches, 34inches, and 36inches). Interface pressure mats measured seat and backrest pressure distribution, subjective rating scales were used to measure overall and local body region discomfort. The results showed that overall body and local body region discomfort ratings tend to be lower when the seat pitch increased from 28 inches to 36 inches (p < 0.05). For pressure variables, the upper back average contact area, upper/lower back average contact pressure, upper/lower back average peak contact pressure, right buttock average contact area, left/right thigh buttock average peak contact pressure, and left buttock average peak contact pressure were significantly affected by seat pitch(p < 0.05). Separate analyses support that seat pitch was more strongly correlated with backrest interface pressure than with seat pan pressure. In conclusion, seat pitch was found to be an important factor associated with body-seat contact pressure and discomfort ratings. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aircraft Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety Transportation
• Keywords:
  Aircraft Seat Author Keywords: Pressure Mat Body Regions Passenger Discomfort Posture Seat Designs Seat Pitch
• ISSN:
  0169-8141
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  76
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20063105
• Citation:
  Int J Ind Ergon 2020 Mar; 76:102900
• Contact Point Address:
  Chuan Zhao, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA
• Email:
  zhaochuancow@gmail.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  University of California, Berkeley
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7eee2dfa3379d5560361cd9b8bbcc1627ee5e8afe006c753ec0948b7aada7f23238e16234402e277ad1d3dbbf30494adbb528ef2019304bb325946281ab1fdf6
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/226228/cdc_226228_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.23 MB ]