Ergonomic lectern study finds prototype easier on instructors
A university lectern redesigned around instructors’ body measurements scored better for posture risk and usability than standard models.
By Tom Brennan · Health & Medicine Correspondent
2 min read
An ergonomic lectern study has found that a prototype built around university instructors’ body measurements performed better than standard lecterns in usability and posture-risk tests. The findings matter for teachers because lecture-room work can involve long periods of standing, computer use and strained positions that may contribute to neck, shoulder and lower-back pain, according to Inderscience.
The research, published in the International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, examined how instructors used existing lecterns before testing a redesigned version. Inderscience said the prototype was created from anthropometric data, meaning measurements of human body size and proportions, along with information on instructors’ working patterns.
What did the ergonomic lectern study find?
The study reported that 34 university instructors took part in the evaluation. Researchers first assessed their interactions with conventional lecterns, then compared those results with use of the new ergonomic design.
Posture was assessed using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment, or REBA, a tool used in ergonomics to estimate injury risk from body position, movement and force during work. In that system, lower scores point to lower ergonomic risk and less need for corrective changes.
According to Inderscience, instructors using the redesigned lectern recorded a REBA score of 3, compared with 4 for conventional lecterns. The study interpreted that difference as a reduction in posture-related ergonomic risk.
The researchers also used the System Usability Scale, or SUS, a standard questionnaire for rating how easy and effective a product is to use. The prototype’s average SUS score was well above the score for standard lecterns, Inderscience said.
Why lectern design can affect instructors
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are injuries or conditions involving muscles, joints and tendons that develop or worsen because of workplace activity. Instructors may face these risks when teaching requires them to stand for extended periods, operate computers and hold awkward postures while speaking or presenting.
Lecterns have long been a routine part of public speaking, but the study treated them as workstations that can affect physical strain. The redesign aimed to better fit the people using the lectern rather than relying on a one-size layout.
The paper, by Samira Ranjbar Naserabadi and colleagues, is titled “A user-centred ergonomic redesign of a university lectern significantly mitigates postural risk and enhances usability: evidence from REBA and SUS assessments.” It was published in 2026 in the International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, with DOI 10.1504/ijhfe.2026.154978.
The results do not report long-term health outcomes for instructors. They show that, in usability testing and posture assessment, the prototype scored better than conventional lecterns on the measures used by the researchers.
This story draws on original reporting from Medical Xpress.