Little Person’s Chair
A tailored seating solution for little people. Designed by experts, built for comfort.
The Challenge
When manufacturing seating for individuals with dystrophies, careful attention must be paid to anthropometrics. Designing the perfect fit for a little person is far more complex than simply scaling down a standard office chair since they have unique limb proportions that differ from the average population.
The Solution
Sitmatic solved the oversized seatpan problem by increasing the backrest thickness 8” by adding multiple layers of foam beneath the contoured top layer. Since the worksurfaces in the occupant’s office were at a standard 29” height, Sitmatic had also originally manufactured a chair with a footring to provide foot support. However, after testing the chair, we discovered that the woman experienced discomfort if her knees were flexed more than 30°.
Sitmatic solved the problem by custom bending a footbar to support her feet at the proper angle, and a lower seat height cylinder was used to allow easier ingress and egress. Finally, an adjustable Air Lumbar (+AL) was installed to fine-tune the lumbar shape, and wide armrest caps that rotate inward were added to accommodate a narrow elbow-to-elbow distance.
When fitting a little person for a chair, the most critical measurement is the popliteal-to-buttock length (from the back of the knee to the back of the buttocks). In the case study pictured to the left, this person’s popliteal-to-buttock was 8 ½”. Thus, a standard 18” deep seatpan would prevent her from contacting the backrest and receiving lumbar support from the chair.
Sitmatic offers a Petite Seat (PS) at 16” deep, but this would have still been too deep for the person in this case study. Additionally, making the seatpan any shorter was not possible because the mechanism underneath the chair, with a 10 ½” length, would protrude out and hit the occupant in the back of the legs.
Ergonomic-FirstDesign
Triple Foam Back
A Triple Foam Back adds extra layers of foam cushioning to functionally reduce seat depth, enabling smaller users to comfortably reach the backrest for proper lumbar support. This tailored design enhances posture, reduces strain, and offers personalized ergonomic comfort for individuals with shorter body dimensions.
Lumbar Support
Personalized lumbar support maintains the spine's natural curve to reduce lower back strain and promote proper posture. Our scientifically engineered backrests hug and support the back from the lumbar to the thorax, and our four lumbar shapes can fit even the fussiest lower back.
SynchroExec Control
3:1 synchronized rocking control in our SynchroExec Control handle allows for smooth, proportional movement, while independent backrest angle adjustment allows little people to access optimal lumbar support without compromising comfort. This design enhances posture, relieves pressure points, and provides customized ergonomic control tailored to smaller body dimensions.
Adjustable Arms
Armrests that are fully adjustable in height, width, and angle, combined with extra-wide memory foam arm caps, offer little people personalized support that aligns with their unique body proportions. These adjustments enhance comfort, reduce strain on the shoulders and arms, and provide proper posture for extended periods of sitting.
Petite Seat
Pairing our 16” wide x 16” deep petite-sized seat with the Triple Foam backrest ensures that little people can achieve proper back support and posture alignment by functionally reducing seat depth. This combination reduces strain, provides optimal lumbar support, and creates a tailored ergonomic fit that bolsters comfort and well-being throughout the workday.
Custom Footbar
A custom footbar tailored to user-specific dimensions provides little people with optimal leg support and proper foot positioning, fostering better circulation and reducing strain on the lower body. This personalized adjustment enhances ergonomic comfort and stability, allowing for a more natural and supportive sitting posture.
Nano Seat Height
Sitmatic’s Nano Seat Height feature, adjustable from 13 ¼” to 16” from the floor, ensures that little people can sit with their feet flat on the ground, reinforcing proper posture and reducing pressure on the legs. This ergonomic adjustment enhances comfort, stability, and ease of movement, allowing for a more natural seating experience.
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