Development and Acceptability of an Ergonomic Armchair Attachment for Posture Correction Among College Students

Abstract

Poor posture among college students has become a growing health concern due to prolonged sitting and the widespread use of conventional classroom armchairs that provide inadequate ergonomic support. Extended exposure to poor sitting posture may contribute to musculoskeletal discomfort, spinal misalignment, fatigue, and reduced functional performance. Although ergonomic furniture has been recommended to address these issues, replacing existing classroom furniture is often financially impractical for many educational institutions. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the acceptability of an innovative ergonomic armchair attachment designed to enhance posture correction among college students while utilizing existing classroom armchairs. A descriptive developmental research design was employed involving sixty (60) respondents, consisting of thirty (30) licensed physical therapists with at least three years of clinical experience and thirty (30) Physical Therapy students. The prototype was evaluated using a modified Cornell Ergonomic Seating Evaluation Questionnaire, which assessed design and appearance, ease of use, chair adjustability, seat comfort, and overall acceptability. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, and weighted mean. Results revealed that the ergonomic armchair attachment achieved an overall Highly Acceptable rating. Seat comfort received the highest evaluation, followed by design and appearance and ease of use, whereas chair adjustability received a Moderately Acceptable rating, indicating areas for further improvement. The findings suggest that the ergonomic armchair attachment is a practical, user-friendly, and cost-effective innovation that may promote proper sitting posture and reduce posture-related musculoskeletal discomfort among college students.

Keywords: College Students; Ergonomic Armchair Attachment; Ergonomics; Musculoskeletal Health; Physical Therapy; Posture Correction

Citation

Ducanes RV, Pineda JDH, Naval RCP. Development and Acceptability of an Ergonomic Armchair Attachment for Posture Correction Among College Students. WebLog J Phys Ther Rehabil. wjptr.2026.h1405. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22168652