SCHOOL FURNITURE: MODERN APPROACH TO THE FUNCTIONAL SIZES

<em>Functional sizes of school furniture are established on the basis of the analysis of results of anthropometric studies and are regulated by State standards. The article presents the results of anthropometric measures of 923 schoolchildren from 1–4 forms. 6 indices, which determinate functional sizes of school furniture: height of popliteal space, height of elbow above the sitting, height of shoulder above the sitting, a distance between back and popliteal angle, the most width of pelvis, length of a body were measured. Changes of body’s proportions in modern younger schoolchildren were proved: increasing of the length of upper and lower extremities, decreasing of body length. These facts lead to the need of reconsideration of normative sizes of school furniture and rules on its choice for the organization of optimal place of work of younger schoolchild.</em><br /><strong><em>Key words: younger schoolchildren, school furniture, anthropometric indices, functional sizes.</em></strong><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>(<em><em><em>Voprosy sovremennoi pediatrii — </em></em></em>Current Pediatrics. 2009;8(6):<em>26-30</em>)</em>