Being seated for long periods, while part of many leisure or occupational activities, can lead to discomfort, pain and sometimes health issues. The impact of prolonged sitting on the body has been widely studied in the literature, with a large number of human-body finite element models developed to simulate sitting and assess seat-induced discomfort or to investigate the biomechanical factors involved. Here, we review the finite element models developed to investigate sitting discomfort or risk

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... of pressure sores. Our study examines finite element models from twenty-seven papers, seventeen dedicated to assessing seating discomfort and ten dedicated to investigating pressure ulcers caused by prolonged sitting. The models' mesh composition and material properties are found to differ widely. These models share a lack of validation and generally make little allowance for anthropometric diversity. Highlights  Literature review focusing on finite element models assessing sitting discomfort and pressure ulcer risk due to prolonged sitting SAVONNET, Léo, WANG, Xuguang, DUPREY, Sonia, 2018, Finite element models of the thigh-buttock complex for assessing static sitting discomfort and pressure sore risk: a literature review, Gefen A, Haberman E. 2007. Viscoelastic properties of ovine adipose tissue covering the gluteus muscles. J Biomech Eng. 129:924-930. Gefen A, van Nierop B, Bader DL, Oomens CW. 2008. Strain-time cell-death threshold for skeletal muscle in a tissue-engineered model system for deep tissue injury. J Biomech. 41:2003-2012. Grujicic M, Pandurangan B, Arakere G, Bell WC, He T, Xie X. 2009a. Seat-cushion and softtissue material modeling and a finite element investigation of the seating comfort for passenger-vehicle occupants. Mater Des. 30:4273-4285. Grujicic M, Pandurangan B, Arakere G, Bell WC, He T, Xie X. 2009b. Seat-cushion and softtissue material modeling and a finite element investigation of the seating comfort for passenger-vehicle occupants. Mater Des. 30:4273-4285. Guo L-X, Dong R-C, Zhang M. 2016. Effect of lumbar support on seating comfort predicted by a whole human body-seat model. Int J Ind Ergon. 53:319-327. Harrison DD, Harrison SO, Croft AC, Harrison DE, Troyanovich SJ. 1999. Sitting biomechanics Part I: Review of the Literature. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 22:594-609. Hartung. 2006. Objektivierung des statischen Sitzkomforts auf Fahrzeugsitzen durch die Kontaktkräfte zwischen Mensch und Sitz, Dissertation am Lehrstuhl für Ergonomie, Technische Universität München. Hiemstra-van Mastrigt S, Groenesteijn L, Vink P, Kuijt-Evers LFM. 2017. Predicting passenger seat comfort and discomfort on the basis of human, context and seat characteristics: a literature review. Ergonomics. 60:889-911. Huang S, Zhang Z, Xu Z, He Y. 2015. Modeling of human model for static pressure distribution prediction. Int J Ind Ergon. 50:186-195. Jackson C, Emck AJ, Hunston MJ, Jarvis PC. 2009. Pressure Measurements and Comfort of Foam Safety Cushions for Confined Seating. Aviat Space Environ Med. 80:565-569. K Daniel R, L Priest D, C Wheatley D. 1981. Daniel R K, Priest D L, Wheatley D CEtiologic factors in pressure sores: An experimental model. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 62: 492-498. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 62:492-8. Kamijo, Tsujimura, Obara, Katsumata. 1982. Evaluation of seating comfort. SAE Conf. Kolich. 2004. Predicting automobile seat comfort using a neural network. Int J Ind Ergon 33.:285-293. Kosiak M. 1961. Etiology of decubitus ulcers. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 42:19-29. Kuroda S, Akimoto M. 2005. Finite element analysis of undermining of pressure ulcer with a simple cylinder model. J Nippon Med Sch Nippon Ika Daigaku Zasshi. 72:174-178. Larrabee WF. 1986. A finite element model of skin deformation. I. Biomechanics of skin and soft tissue: a review. The Laryngoscope. 96:399-405.