Lipoatrophia semicircularis and the relation with office work

The relation between lipoatrophia semicircularis (LS)-band-like circular de pressions and isolated atrophy of the subcutaneous fatty tissue on the ante rior thighs and sitting posture or pressure on the seat surface of office c hairs was investigated in an office environment, A questionnaire was presen ted to 21 subjects and electromyographic measurements, video analysis and p ressure measurements were performed. Remarkable posture differences between the LS group and the group without LS were found: less use of the lumbar s upport of the chair, static sitting postures and a too high seat surface of the office chair were characteristics of the subjects with LS. These obser vations were confirmed by higher pressure measurements for the subjects wit h LS. In addition, highly significant pressure differences were found betwe en different chairs. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.