The working postures among schoolchildren--a controlled intervention study on the effects of newly designed workstations. Comparisons of Musculoskeletal Complaints and Data Entry Between a Sitting and a Sit-Stand Workstation Paradigm Breaking up workplace sitting time with intermittent standing bouts improves fatigue and musculoskeletal discomfort in overweight/obese office workers A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effects of New Task Chairs on Shoulder and Neck Pain Among Sewing Machine Operators: The Los Angeles Garment Study Ergonomic Training Reduces Musculoskeletal Disorders among Office Workers: Results from the 6-Month Follow-Up. The Effect of an Ergonomic Intervention on Musculoskeletal, Psychosocial and Visual Strain of VDT Data Entry Work: The United States Part of the International Study Sitting on a chair or an exercise ball: various perspectives to guide decision making. Evaluation of sit-stand workstations in an office setting: a randomised controlled trial A randomised control trial of the cognitive effects of working in a seated as opposed to a standing position in office workers Evaluation of ergonomic and education interventions to reduce occupational sitting in office-based university workers: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial Effect of Standing or Walking at a Workstation on Cognitive Function Passive rotary dynamic sitting at the workplace by office-workers with lumbar pain: a randomized multicenter study. Gender-based differences in postural responses to seated exposures. A prospective study of computer users: II. Postural risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders. Providing NHS staff with height-adjustable workstations and behaviour change strategies to reduce workplace sitting time: protocol for the Stand More AT (SMArT) Work cluster randomised controlled trial The effect of a sit-stand workstation intervention on daily sitting, standing and physical activity: protocol for a 12 month workplace randomised control trial Effects of dynamic office chairs on trunk kinematics, trunk extensor EMG and spinal shrinkage A Randomized Controlled Trial of Chair Interventions on Back and Hip Pain Among Sewing Machine Operators: The Los Angeles Garment Study Reducing office workers’ sitting time: rationale and study design for the Stand Up Victoria cluster randomized trial The Effects of Office Ergonomic Training on Musculoskeletal Complaints, Sickness Absence, and Psychological Well-Being Workplace sitting and height-adjustable workstations: a randomized controlled trial. Can a smart chair improve the sitting behavior of office workers? Total Worker Health Intervention Increases Activity of Sedentary Workers.
BACKGROUND School workstations are often inappropriate in not offering an optimal sitting posture . The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of individually adjustable saddle-type chairs with wheels and desks with comfort curve and arm support on schoolchildren 's working postures compared to conventional workstations . METHODS Ninety-seven participants aged 12 - 16 years were followed for 1 year , 47 at an intervention school and 50 at a control school .  Anthropometrics and workstation dimensions were measured and working postures analyzed for a part of each group ( n = 21 , both groups ) by means of video recording at baseline , before new workstations were introduced , and during follow-up . RESULTS There was a significant increase in upright back ( p= .012 ) and neck ( p= .019 ) postures in the intervention group compared to controls during follow-up . The saddle-type chairs allowed significantly greater trunk-thigh angles ( p < .001 ) among participants than conventional chairs . CONCLUSIONS In schoolchildren , using individually adjustable saddle-type chairs and desks with comfort curve , a better match between workstations and anthropometric dimensions and improved working postures are obtained than using conventional workstations Background : Seated working positions are often regarded as a cause for discomfort in the musculoskeletal system . Performing work in different working positions — that is , alternating between sitting and st and ing ( sit-st and workstation paradigm)—could help reduce physical complaints . Objective : The questions were whether performing office work partly in a st and ing position leads to reduced complaints and whether st and ing would change the efficiency of data entry office work . Method : We investigated the effect of a sit-st and workstation paradigmd during experimental data entry office work on physical and psychological complaints and data entry efficiency by conducting a r and omized controlled trial with 60 male participants ages 18 to 35 years . Results : In this experiment , musculoskeletal complaints were reduced by a sit-st and workstation paradigm . A trend could be identified indicating a small but nonsignificant loss of efficiency in data entry while st and ing . Conclusion : A sit-st and workstation paradigm reduces musculoskeletal complaints without considerably affecting data entry efficiency under the presented study conditions ( young male participants , short duration , fixed and controlled sit-st and workstation paradigm , simulated experimental working condition ) . Application : According to the present data , implementing a sit-st and workstation paradigm can be an effective workplace health intervention to reduce musculoskeletal complaints . This experiment encourages further studies on the effectiveness of a sit-st and workstation paradigm . Experimental research and field studies that prove the reduction of complaints when introducing a sit-st and workstation paradigm in the workplace could be the basis for evidence -based recommendations regarding such interventions Objectives To examine whether the introduction of intermittent st and ing bouts during the workday using a height-adjustable workstation can improve subjective levels of fatigue , musculoskeletal discomfort and work productivity relative to seated work . Methods Overweight/obese office workers ( n=23 ; age 48.2±7.9 years , body mass index 29.6±4 kg/m2 ) undertook two , 5-day experimental conditions in an equal , r and omised ( 1:1 ) order . In a simulated office environment , participants performed their usual occupational tasks for 8 h/day in a : seated work posture ( SIT condition ) ; or interchanging between a st and ing and seated work posture every 30 min using an electric , height-adjustable workstation ( ST AND -SIT condition ) . Self-administered question naires measuring fatigue , musculoskeletal discomfort and work productivity were performed on day 5 of each experimental condition . Results Participants ’ total fatigue score was significantly higher during the SIT condition ( mean 67.8 ( 95 % CI 58.8 to 76.7 ) ) compared with the ST AND -SIT condition ( 52.7 ( 43.8 to 61.5 ) ; p<0.001 ) . Lower back musculoskeletal discomfort was significantly reduced during the ST AND -SIT condition compared with the SIT condition ( 31.8 % reduction ; p=0.03 ) . Despite concentration/focus being significantly higher during the SIT condition ( p=0.006 ) , there was a trend towards improved overall work productivity in favour of the ST AND -SIT condition ( p=0.053 ) . Conclusions Transitioning from a seated to a st and ing work posture every 30 min across the workday , relative to seated work , led to a significant reduction in fatigue levels and lower back discomfort in overweight/obese office workers , while maintaining work productivity . Future investigations should be directed at underst and ing whether sustained use of height-adjustable workstations promote concentration and productivity at work . Trial Registration Number ACTRN12611000632998 Study Design . This is a 4-month r and omized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of chair design on neck/shoulder pain  among sewing machine operators . Objective . Determine whether a chair with a curved seat pan leads to improved changes in monthly neck/shoulder pain scores compared with a control intervention . Summary of Background Data . Sewing machine operators experience a high prevalence and severity of neck and shoulder pain in comparison to other working population s probably due to the sustained shoulder abduction and neck and upper back flexion required of the task . An adjustable height task chair that supports a forward sitting posture may reduce these posture-related risk factors and reduce neck/shoulder pain . Material s and Methods . A total of 277 sewing machine operators with neck/shoulder pain were assigned to receive 1 ) miscellaneous items ( control group ) , 2 ) a chair with a flat seat pan plus miscellaneous items , or 3 ) a chair with a curved seat pan plus miscellaneous items . Participants completed a monthly question naire assessing neck/shoulder pain severity . Results . Based on estimates of pain score changes from a repeat- measures linear regression , participants who received the flat seat chair experienced a decline in pain of 0.14 ( 95 % confidence interval , 0.07–0.22 ) points per month compared with those in the control group , while those who received the curved seat experienced a decline of 0.34 ( 95 % confidence interval , 0.28–0.41 ) points per month compared with those in the control group . These estimates did not change after adjustment for potential covariates . Conclusions . These findings demonstrate that an adjustable height task chair with a curved seat pan can reduce neck and shoulder pain severity among sewing machine operators BACKGROUND Musculoskeletal disorders are commonly reported among computer users . This study explored whether these disorders can be reduced by the provision of ergonomics education . METHODS A cluster r and omised controlled trial was conducted in which 3 units were r and omised for intervention and received training , and 3  units  were given a leaflet . The effect of intervention on workstation habits , musculoskeletal disorders , days and episodes of sick leave , and psychological well-being were assessed . RESULTS A significant improvement in workstation habits was found , and the differences remained significant at the follow-up time point for keyboard , mouse , chair , and desk use . The largest reduction in the percentage of musculoskeletal disorders was in the neck region ( -42.2 % , 95 % CI -60.0 to -24.4 ) . After adjusting for baseline values , significant differences were found at the follow-up time point in the neck , right shoulder , right and left upper limbs , lower back , and right and left lower limbs . No significant differences were found for the days and episodes of sick leave or the psychological well-being among workers after the intervention . CONCLUSION Consistent reductions were observed for all musculoskeletal disorders at the follow-up time point , although the difference was not statistically significant for the upper back . The improvements in the musculoskeletal disorders did not translate into fewer days lost from work or improved psychological well-being The United States MEPS ( musculoskeletal — eyestrain — psychosocial — stress ) study consisted of 1 group of 28 female data entry operators . The intervention was in 3 parts : workstation re design ( including advanced ergonomic chairs , motorized adjustable workstations , advanced adjustable keyboards , adjustable copyholders , adjustable footrests , monitor support surfaces ) and ergonomic training/coaching and corrective lenses . After the intervention , statistically significant reductions in physical signs ( trigger points , neck and shoulder mobility ) , subjective reports of intensity and frequency of musculoskeletal pain , and subjective reports of visual problems were observed . Static load during the work sample , as assessed by experts , improved after the intervention as did measured postural angles of head and trunk and subjective assessment of users of ergonomic characteristics of the workplaces . For all of these measures , improvements observed 1 month after intervention were also observed in the 1-year follow-up . Trapezius load , as assessed by electromyography ( EMG ) , decreased after intervention , but then increased in the follow-up . The increase was interpreted as a calibration problem BACKGROUND Prolonged sitting is recognized as a risk factor for the reporting of low back troubles . Despite the use of exercise balls in replacement of the office chair , little quantitative evidence exists to support this practice and hence motivated this research . Given the potential for several biological effects and mechanisms this study was approached with several layers of instrumentation to quantify differences in muscle activation , spine posture , spine compression and stability while sitting on an exercise ball versus a stable seat surface . Also , differences in the pressure distribution at the seat-user interface were quantified for the different seat surfaces to provide an objective perspective on the mechanism influencing perceived comfort levels . METHODS Eight male subjects volunteered to sit for 30 min on an exercise ball and on a wooden stool .  Muscle activity and spine position were used to model spine load and stability . An additional seven sat on an exercise ball and chair to examine pressure distribution over the contact area . FINDINGS There was no difference in muscle activation profiles of each of the 14 muscles between sitting on the stool and ball . Calculated stability and compression values showed sitting on the ball made no difference in mean response values . The contact area of the seat-user interface was greatest on the exercise ball . INTERPRETATION The results of this study suggest that prolonged sitting on a dynamic , unstable seat surface does not significantly affect the magnitudes of muscle activation , spine posture , spine loads or overall spine stability .  Sitting on a ball appears to spread out the contact area possibly result ing in uncomfortable soft tissue compression perhaps explaining the reported discomfort Background Excessive sitting time is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity independent of physical activity . This aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a sit-st and workstation on sitting time , and vascular , metabolic and musculoskeletal outcomes in office workers , and to investigate workstation acceptability and feasibility . Methods A two-arm , parallel-group , individually r and omised controlled trial was conducted in one organisation . Participants were asymptomatic full-time office workers aged ≥18 years . Each participant in the intervention arm had a sit-st and workstation installed on their workplace desk for 8 weeks . Participants in the control arm received no intervention . The primary outcome was workplace sitting time , assessed at 0 , 4 and 8 weeks by an ecological momentary assessment diary . Secondary behavioural , cardiometabolic and musculoskeletal outcomes were assessed . Acceptability and feasibility were assessed via question naire and interview . ANCOVA and magnitude-based inferences examined intervention effects relative to controls at 4 and 8 weeks . Participants and research ers were not blind to group allocation . Results Forty-seven participants were r and omised ( intervention n = 26 ; control n = 21 ) . Relative to the control group at 8 weeks , the intervention group had a beneficial decrease in sitting time ( −80.2 min/8-h workday ( 95 % CI = −129.0 , −31.4 ) ; p = 0.002 ) , increase in st and ing time ( 72.9 min/8-h workday ( 21.2 , 124.6 ) ; p = 0.007 ) and decrease in total cholesterol ( −0.40 mmol/L ( −0.79 , −0.003 ) ; p = 0.049 ) . No harmful changes in musculoskeletal discomfort/pain were observed relative to controls , and beneficial changes in flow-mediated dilation and diastolic blood pressure were observed . Most participants self-reported that the workstation was easy to use and their work-related productivity did not decrease when using the device . Factors that negatively influenced workstation use were workstation design , the social environment , work tasks and habits . ConclusionS hort-term use of a feasible sit-st and workstation reduced daily sitting time and led to beneficial improvements in cardiometabolic risk parameters in asymptomatic office workers . These findings imply that if the observed use of the sit-st and workstations continued over a longer duration , sit-st and workstations may have important ramifications for the prevention and reduction of cardiometabolic risk in a large proportion of the working population .Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov NCT02496507 Abstract Sedentary behaviour is increasing and has been identified as a potential significant health risk , particularly for desk-based employees . The development of sit-st and workstations in the workplace is one approach to reduce sedentary behaviour . However , there is uncertainty about the effects of sit-st and workstations on cognitive functioning .  A sample of 36 university staff participated in a within-subjects r and omised control trial examining the effect of sitting vs. st and ing for one hour per day for five consecutive days on attention , information processing speed , short-term memory , working memory and task efficiency . The results of the study showed no statistically significant difference in cognitive performance or work efficiency between the sitting and st and ing conditions , with all effect sizes being small to very small ( all ds < .2 ) . This result suggests that the use of sit-st and workstations is not associated with a reduction in cognitive performance . Practitioner Summary : Although it has been reported that the use of sit-st and desks may help offset adverse health effects of prolonged sitting , there is scant evidence about changes in productivity . This r and omised control study showed that there was no difference between sitting and st and ing for one hour on cognitive function or task efficiency in university staff Background Prolonged sitting is a specific occupational hazard in office workers . There is growing evidence that prolonged sitting is detrimental to metabolic health . The aim of this study is to determine whether providing  office workers with education along with adjustable sit-st and workstations leads to reduction in sitting behavior . Methods / Design A r and omized control trial ( RCT ) with three groups ( one control group and two intervention groups ) will be conducted in an office workplace setting . The education intervention group will receive an education package that encourages reduction in sitting behaviors . The sit-st and desk intervention group will receive the same education package along with an adjustable sit-st and desk . Participants will be included in the study if they are currently employed in a full-time academic or administrative role that involves greater than 15 hours per week or greater than 4 hours per day computer-based work . Baseline data will include participant ’s age , gender , weight , height , smoking habit , employment position , level of education , and baseline self-reported leisure time physical activity . The primary outcome is the average daily sedentary time during work hours , measured by an accelerometer . Participant recruitment commenced in March 2013 and will be completed by December 2013 . Discussion This study will determine whether providing office workers with an adjustable sit-st and desk and individually targeted education , or education alone , is more effective in decreasing sitting behaviors than no intervention . Trial registration Australian New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry : Objective : In the present study , we examined the effect of working while seated , while st and ing , or while walking on measures of short-term memory , working memory , selective and sustained attention , and information-processing speed . Background : The advent of computer-based technology has revolutionized the adult workplace , such that average adult full-time employees spend the majority of their working day seated . Prolonged sitting is associated with increasing obesity and chronic health conditions in children and adults . One possible intervention to reduce the negative health impacts of the modern office environment involves modifying the workplace to increase incidental activity and exercise during the workday . Although modifications , such as sit-st and desks , have been shown to improve physiological function , there is mixed information regarding the impact of such office modification on individual cognitive performance and thereby the efficiency of the work environment . Method : In a fully counterbalanced r and omized control trial , we assessed the cognitive performance of 45 undergraduate students for up to a 1-hr period in each condition . Results : The results indicate that there is no significant change in the measures used to assess cognitive performance associated with working while seated , while st and ing , or while walking at low intensity . Conclusion : These results indicate that cognitive performance is not de grade d with short-term use of alternate workstations BACKGROUND CONTEXT It is generally recognized that long periods of sitting can either cause or aggravate lumbar pain . A new , ergonomically design ed chair has a fixed backrest and a motor-driven seat with a horizontal rotary movement in alternating left-right cycles . PURPOSE The objective of this study is to prove superiority of the new technique of passive rotary dynamic sitting for subjects working in a sedentary occupation and suffering from lumbar pain . STUDY DESIGN / SETTING A r and omized , double-blind , multicenter , two-armed study was performed using a parallel group design . PATIENT SAMPLE 280 persons suffering from lumbar pain were matched pairwise and r and omized en bloc . OUTCOME MEASURES The first and second primary endpoints target criteria were the vali date d German version of the Oswestry Disability Index ( ODI ) and the number of days of absence from work ( DA ) attributable to lumbar pain , each based on a blinded 2-year follow-up observation after r and omization of the subjects . METHODS After inclusion in the study anonymization , the prob and s were r and omized to receive either an office chair with a motor-driven seat performing a horizontal rotary movement or a chair of the same design without the rotary seat movement . Before delivery of the chairs , 23 prob and s ( 8.2 % ) withdrew their consent to inclusion in the study without stating reasons . From 12 of the remaining matching partners , 23 new pairs were created at r and om , and the study commenced with 124 pairs . RESULTS A further 27 prob and s ( 9.6 % ) were lost to follow-up during the period up to the final consultation . This made it possible to observe the primary endpoint in 82.5 % of the prob and s. The median ODI in both groups was 53 ( 95 % confidence interval for median difference:-1.5 to 0.5 ; p=.59 ) . Median DA in both groups was 0 ( 95 % confidence interval for median difference:-infinity-+infinity ; p=1.00 ) . CONCLUSIONS Under the test conditions used in this study , passive rotary dynamic sitting was not superior to sitting in a high- quality , ergonomically design ed chair not equipped with a micro-rotation function in patients suffering from lumbar pain BACKGROUND Individuals may respond differently to various chair design s and the factors that influence these sitting behaviours are not well understood . There is very little information in the scientific literature regarding the observation and documentation of gender differences in seated postures . In particular , anecdotal observations of potential gender-specific sitting behaviours led us to test the influence of gender on the postural responses to different seated conditions . METHODS Sixteen healthy university students ( 8 males and 8 females ) were tested on four different chair configurations .  Upper body kinematics ( spine angles and centre of mass ) and seat pressure profiles ( centre of pressure , peak pressure ) were obtained during each testing session . FINDINGS Regardless of the chair used or the task performed , average lumbar and trunk angles were significantly more flexed for males than for females ( P=0.047 and P=0.0026 , respectively ) . Males exhibited average lumbar spine and trunk angles of 65.4 degrees ( SD 16.2 degrees ) and 29.8 degrees ( SD 28.3 degrees ) , respectively , while female lumbar spine and trunk angles were 49.6 degrees ( SD 23.1 degrees ) and -3.3 degrees ( SD 20.4 degrees ) , respectively . The pelvis was posteriorly rotated for males ( 7.6 degrees ( SD 8.2 degrees ) ) and anteriorly rotated for females ( -5.5 degrees ( SD 9.3 degrees ) ) ( P=0.0008 ) . Significant gender * chair interactions of the location of the individual on the chair seat were most marked for the pivoting chair with a back rest . Females positioned their centre of mass and hip joints anterior to the chair pivot point while males ' centre of mass ( P=0.0003 ) and hip joints ( P=0.0039 ) were located posterior to the pivot point . Females also sat with their centre of mass closer to the seat pan centre of pressure than males when a back rest was present ( P=0.0012 ) . INTERPRETATION Males and females may be exposed to different loading patterns during prolonged sitting and may experience different pain generating pathways . Therefore , gender-dependent treatment modalities and /or coaching should be implemented when considering methods of reducing the risk of injury or aggravation of an existing injury BACKGROUND Despite widespread recommendations regarding posture during computer use , associations between specific postures and musculoskeletal health are not well characterized . METHODS Six hundred and thirty-two newly hired computer users were followed prospect ively to evaluate associations between posture and neck or shoulder ( N/S ) and h and or arm ( H/A ) musculoskeletal symptoms and musculoskeletal disorders . Participants ' postures were measured at entry and they reported symptoms on weekly diaries . Participants reporting symptoms were examined for specific disorders . Multivariate Cox regression models were used to estimate associations between postural variables and risk of symptoms and disorders , controlling for confounding variables . RESULTS Keying with an inner elbow angle > 121 degrees , greater downward head tilt , and presence of armrests on the participants chair were associated with lower risk of N/S symptoms or N/S disorders .  Keying with elbow height below the height of the " J " key and the presence of a telephone shoulder rest were associated with a greater risk of N/S symptoms or N/S disorders . Horizontal location of the " J " key > 12 cm from the edge of the desk was associated with a lower risk of H/A symptoms and H/A disorders . Use of a keyboard with the " J " key > 3.5 cm above the table surface , key activation force > 48 g , and radial wrist deviation of > 5 degrees while using a mouse was associated with a greater risk of H/A symptoms or H/A disorders . The number of hours keying/week was associated with H/A symptoms and disorders . CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the risk of musculoskeletal symptoms and musculoskeletal disorders may be reduced by encouraging specific seated postures Background High levels of sedentary behaviour ( i.e. , sitting ) are a risk factor for poor health . With high levels of sitting widespread in desk-based office workers , office workplaces are an appropriate setting for interventions aim ed at reducing sedentary behaviour . This paper describes the development processes and proposed intervention procedures of St and More AT ( SMArT ) Work , a multi-component r and omised control ( RCT ) trial which aims to reduce occupational sitting time in desk-based office workers within the National Health Service ( NHS ) . Methods / Design SMArT Work consists of 2 phases : 1 ) intervention development : The development of the SMArT Work intervention takes a community-based participatory research approach using the Behaviour Change Wheel . Focus groups will collect detailed information to gain a better underst and ing of the most appropriate strategies , to sit alongside the provision of height-adjustable workstations , at the environmental , organisational and individual level that support less occupational sitting . 2 ) intervention delivery and evaluation : The 12 month cluster RCT aims to reduce workplace sitting in the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust . Desk-based office workers ( n = 238 ) will be r and omised to control or intervention clusters , with the intervention group receiving height-adjustable workstations and supporting techniques based on the feedback received from the development phase . Data will be collected at four time points ; baseline , 3 , 6 and 12 months . The primary outcome is a reduction in sitting time , measured by the activPALTM micro at 12 months . Secondary outcomes include objective ly measured physical activity and a variety of work-related health and psycho-social measures . A process evaluation will also take place . Discussion This study will be the first long-term , evidence -based , multi-component cluster RCT aim ed at reducing occupational sitting within the NHS . This study will help form a better underst and ing and knowledge base of facilitators and barriers to creating a healthier work environment and contribute to health and wellbeing policy . Trial registration IS RCT N10967042 . Registered 2 February 2015 Background A lack of physical activity and excessive sitting can contribute to poor physical health and wellbeing . The high percentage of the UK adult population in employment , and the prolonged sitting associated with desk-based office-work , make these workplaces an appropriate setting for interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity . This pilot study aims to determine the effect of an office-based sit-st and workstation intervention , compared with usual desk use , on daily sitting , st and ing and physical activity , and to examine the factors that underlie sitting , st and ing and physical activity , within and outside , the workplace . Methods / Design A r and omised control trial ( RCT ) comparing the effects of a sit-st and workstation only and a multi-component sit-st and workstation intervention , with usual desk-based working practice ( no sit-st and workstation ) will be conducted with office workers across two organisations , over a 12 month period ( N = 30 ) . The multicomponent intervention will comprise organisational , environmental and individual elements . Objective data will be collected at baseline , and after 2-weeks , 3-months , 6-months and 12-months of the intervention . Objective measures of sitting , st and ing , and physical activity will be made concurrently ( ActivPAL3 ™ and ActiGraph ( GT3X+ ) ) . Activity diaries , ethnographic participant observation , and interviews with participants and key organisational personnel will be used to elicit underst and ing of the influence of organisational culture on sitting , st and ing and physical activity behaviour in the workplace . Discussion This study will be the first long-term sit-st and workstation intervention study utilising an RCT design , and incorporating a comprehensive process evaluation . The study will generate an underst and ing of the factors that encourage and restrict successful implementation of sit-st and workstation interventions , and will help inform future occupational wellbeing policy and practice . Other strengths include the objective measurement of physical activity during both work and non-work hours . Trail registration Clinical trials.gov identifier NCT02172599 , 22nd June 2014 Seated work has been shown to constitute a risk factor for  low-back pain .  This is attributed to the prolonged and monotonous low-level mechanical load imposed by a seated posture . To evaluate the potential health effects with respect to the low back of office chairs with a movable seat and back rest , trunk kinematics , erector spinae EMG , spinal shrinkage and local discomfort were assessed in 10 subjects performing simulated office work .  On three separate occasions subjects performed a 3 h task consisting of word processing , computer-aided design and reading . Three chairs were used , one with a fixed seat and back rest and two dynamic chairs , one with a seat and back rest movable in a fixed ratio with respect to each other , and one with a freely movable seat and back rest .  Spinal shrinkage measurements showed a larger stature gain when working on the two dynamic chairs as compared with working on the chair with fixed seat and back rest . Trunk kinematics and erector spinae EMG were strongly affected by the task performed but not by the chair type . The results imply that dynamic office chairs offer a potential advantage over fixed chairs , but the effects of the task on the indicators of trunk load investigated were more pronounced than the effects of the chair Objective : Determine whether an adjustable chair with a curved or a flat seat pan improved monthly  back and hip pain scores in sewing machine operators . Methods : This 4-month intervention study r and omized 293 sewing machine operators with back and hip pain . The participants in the control group received a placebo intervention , and participants in the intervention groups received the placebo intervention and one of the two intervention chairs . Results : Compared with the control group , mean pain improvement for the flat chair intervention was 0.43 points ( 95 % CI = 0.34 , 0.51 ) per month , and mean pain improvement for the curved chair intervention was 0.25 points ( 95 % CI = 0.16 , 0.34 ) per month . Conclusions : A height-adjustable task chair with a swivel function can reduce back and hip pain in sewing machine operators . The findings may be relevant to workers who perform visual- and h and -intensive manufacturing jobs Background Excessive time spent in sedentary behaviours ( sitting or lying with low energy expenditure ) is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes , cardiovascular disease and some cancers . Desk-based office workers typically accumulate high amounts of daily sitting time , often in prolonged unbroken bouts . The St and Up Victoria study aims to determine whether a 3-month multi-component intervention in the office setting reduces workplace sitting , particularly prolonged , unbroken sitting time , and results in improvements in cardio-metabolic biomarkers and work-related outcomes , compared to usual practice . Methods / Design A two-arm cluster-r and omized controlled trial ( RCT ) , with worksites as the unit of r and omization , will be conducted in 16 worksites located in Victoria , Australia . Work units from one organisation ( Department of Human Services , Australian Government ) will be allocated to either the multi-component intervention ( organisational , environmental [ height-adjustable workstations ] , and individual behavioural strategies ) or to a usual practice control group . The recruitment target is 160 participants ( office-based workers aged 18–65 years and working at least 0.6 full time equivalent ) per arm . At each assessment ( 0- [ baseline ] , 3- [ post intervention ] , and 12-months [ follow-up ] ) , objective measurement via the activPAL3 activity monitor will be used to assess workplace : sitting time ( primary outcome ) ; prolonged sitting time ( sitting time accrued in bouts of ≥30 minutes ) ; st and ing time ; sit-to-st and transitions ; and , moving time . Additional outcomes assessed will include : non-workplace activity ; cardio-metabolic biomarkers and health indicators ( including fasting glucose , lipids and insulin ; anthropometric measures ; blood pressure ; and , musculoskeletal symptoms ) ; and , work-related outcomes ( presenteeism , absenteeism , productivity , work performance ) . Incremental cost-effectiveness and identification of both workplace and individual-level mediators and moderators of change will also be evaluated . Discussion St and Up Victoria will be the first cluster- RCT to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-component intervention aim ed at reducing prolonged workplace sitting in office workers . Strengths include the objective measurement of activity and assessment of the intervention on markers of cardio-metabolic health . Health- and work-related benefits , as well as the cost-effectiveness of the intervention , will help to inform future occupational practice .Trial registration This study explored whether  musculoskeletal complaints can be reduced by the provision of ergonomics education . A cluster r and omized controlled trial study was conducted in which 3 units were r and omized to intervention and received training and 3 units were given a leaflet . The effect of intervention on knowledge , workstation practice s , musculoskeletal complaints , sickness absence , and psychological well-being were assessed at 6 and 12 months . Although there was no increment of knowledge among workers , significant improvements in workstation practice s in the use of monitor , keyboard , and chair were observed . There were significant reductions in neck and upper and lower back complaints among workers but these did not translate into fewer days lost from work . Workers ’ stress was found to be significantly reduced across the studies . In conclusion , office ergonomics training can be beneficial in reducing musculoskeletal risks and stress among workers BACKGROUND Desk-based office employees sit for most of their working day . To address excessive sitting as a newly identified health risk , best practice frameworks suggest a multi-component approach . However , these approaches are re source intensive and knowledge about their impact is limited . PURPOSE To compare the efficacy of a multi-component intervention to reduce workplace sitting time , to a height-adjustable workstations-only intervention , and to a comparison group ( usual practice ) . DESIGN Three-arm quasi-r and omized controlled trial in three separate administrative units of the University of Queensl and , Brisbane , Australia . Data were collected between January and June 2012 and analyzed the same year . SETTING / PARTICIPANTS Desk-based office workers aged 20 - 65 ( multi-component intervention , n=16 ; workstations-only , n=14 ; comparison , n=14 ) . INTERVENTION The multi-component intervention comprised installation of height-adjustable workstations and organizational-level ( management consultation , staff education , manager e-mails to staff ) and individual-level ( face-to-face coaching , telephone support ) elements . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Workplace sitting time ( minutes/8-hour workday ) assessed objective ly via activPAL3 devices worn for 7 days at baseline and 3 months ( end-of-intervention ) . RESULTS At baseline , the mean proportion of workplace sitting time was approximately 77 % across all groups ( multi-component group 366 minutes/8 hours [ SD=49 ] ; workstations-only group 373 minutes/8 hours [ SD=36 ] , comparison 365 minutes/8 hours [ SD=54 ] ) . Following intervention and relative to the comparison group , workplace sitting time in the multi-component group was reduced by 89 minutes/8-hour workday ( 95 % CI=-130 , -47 minutes ; p<0.001 ) and 33 minutes in the workstations-only group ( 95 % CI=-74 , 7 minutes , p=0.285 ) . CONCLUSIONS A multi-component intervention was successful in reducing workplace sitting . These findings may have important practical and financial implication s for workplaces targeting sitting time reductions . CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry 00363297 Prolonged sitting can cause health problems and musculoskeletal discomfort . There is a need for objective and non-obstructive means of measuring sitting behavior . A ' smart ' office chair can monitor sitting behavior and provide tactile feedback , aim ing to improve sitting behavior . This study aim ed to investigate the effect of the feedback signal on sitting behavior and musculoskeletal discomfort . In a 12-week prospect i ve cohort study ( ABCB design ) among office workers ( n = 45 ) was measured sitting duration and posture , feedback signals and musculoskeletal discomfort . Between the study phases , small changes were observed in mean sitting duration , posture and discomfort . After turning off the feedback signal , a slight increase in sitting duration was observed ( 10 min , p = 0.04 ) , a slight decrease in optimally supported posture ( 2.8 % , p < 0.01 ) , and musculoskeletal discomfort ( 0.8 , p < 0.01 ) was observed . We conclude that the ' smart ' chair is able to monitor the sitting behavior , the feedback signal , however , led to small or insignificant changes INTRODUCTION Office employees are exposed to hazardous levels of sedentary work . Interventions that integrate health promotion and health protection elements are needed to advance the health of sedentary workers . This study tested an integrated intervention on occupational sedentary/physical activity behaviors , cardiometabolic disease biomarkers , musculoskeletal discomfort , and work productivity . DESIGN Two-group , RCT . Data were collected between January and August 2014 . SETTING / PARTICIPANTS Overweight/obese adults working in sedentary desk jobs were r and omized to : ( 1 ) a health protection-only group ( HPO , n=27 ) ; or ( 2 ) an integrated health protection/health promotion group ( HP/HP , n=27 ) . INTERVENTION HPO participants received an ergonomic workstation optimization intervention and three e-mails/week promoting rest breaks and posture variation . HP/HP participants received the HPO intervention plus access to a seated activity permissive workstation . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Occupational sedentary and physical activity behaviors ( primary outcomes ) , cardiometabolic health outcomes , musculoskeletal discomfort , and work productivity ( secondary outcomes ) were measured at baseline and post-intervention ( 16 weeks ) . RESULTS The HP/HP group increased occupational light intensity physical activity over the HPO group and used the activity permissive workstations 50 minutes/work day . Significant associations were observed between activity permissive workstation adherence and improvements in several cardiometabolic biomarkers ( weight , total fat mass , resting heart rate , body fat percentage ) and work productivity outcomes ( concentration at work , days missed because of health problems ) . CONCLUSIONS The HP/HP group increased occupational physical activity and greater activity permissive workstation adherence was associated with improved health and work productivity outcomes . These findings are important for employers interested in advancing the well-being of sedentary office workers . TRIAL REGISTRATION This study is registered at www . clinical trials.gov NCT02071420
Conclusion The findings of this review indicate a consistent trend that supports the role of a chair intervention to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms among workers who are required to sit for prolonged periods .
The review also highlights gaps : for example in showing whether the effectiveness of a chair intervention has long-term impact , particularly with respect to musculoskeletal symptoms , as well as the recurrence of symptoms and the consequent cost of care
Background Prolonged sitting has been associated with musculoskeletal dysfunction .
For desk workers , workstation modifications frequently address the work surface and chair .
Chairs which can prevent abnormal strain of the neuromuscular system may aid in preventing musculo-skeletal pain and discomfort .
Anecdotally , adjustability of the seat height and the seat pan depth to match the anthropometrics of the user is the most commonly recommended intervention .
Within the constraints of the current economic climate , employers dem and evidence for the benefits attributed to an investment in altering workstations , however this evidence -base is currently unclear both in terms of the strength of the evidence and the nature of the chair features .
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of chair interventions in reducing workplace musculoskeletal symptoms .