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Some Effects of Lumbar Support Contour on Driver Seated Posture
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English
Abstract
An appropriately contoured lumbar support is widely regarded as an essential component of a comfortable auto seat. A frequently stated objective for a lumbar support is to maintain the sitter's lumbar spine in a slightly extended, or lordotic, posture. Although sitters have been observed to sit with substantial lordosis in some short-duration testing, long-term postural interaction with a lumbar support has not been documented quantitatively in the automotive environment. A laboratory study was conducted to investigate driver posture with three seatback contours. Subjects† from four anthropometric groups operated an interactive laboratory driving simulator for one-hour trials. Posture data were collected by means of a sonic digitizing system. The data identify driver-selected postures over time for three lumbar support contours. An increase of 25 mm in the lumbar support prominence from a flat contour did not substantially change lumbar spine posture.
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Authors
Citation
Reed, M., Schneider, L., and Eby, B., "Some Effects of Lumbar Support Contour on Driver Seated Posture," SAE Technical Paper 950141, 1995, https://doi.org/10.4271/950141.Also In
Human Factors in Vehicle Design: Lighting, Seating, and Advanced Electronics
Number: SP-1088 ; Published: 1995-02-01
Number: SP-1088 ; Published: 1995-02-01
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