Conclusion : sit-st and workstations may reduce low back pain  among workers .
Practitioner Summary : In a sedentary population , changing posture may reduce the chance of developing low back pain .
Abstract Background : Sit-st and workstations are proposed solutions to reduce sedentary time at work .
Numerous companies are using them to mitigate health concerns such as musculoskeletal discomfort .
Objective : To review the literature on sit-st and workstations and low back discomfort .
Low back joint loading and kinematics during standing and unsupported sitting
The aim was to examine lumbar spine kinematics , spinal joint loads and trunk muscle activation patterns during a prolonged ( 2 h ) period of sitting .  This information is necessary to assist the ergonomist in design ing work where posture variation is possible — particularly between st and ing and various styles of  sitting  . Joint loads were predicted with a highly detailed anatomical biomechanical model ( that incorporated 104 muscles , passive ligaments and intervertebral discs ) , which utilized biological signals of spine posture and muscle electromyograms ( EMG ) from each trial of each subject . Sitting result ed in significantly higher ( p < 0.001 ) low back compressive loads ( mean±SD 1698±467 N ) than those experienced by the lumbar spine during st and ing ( 1076±243 N ) . Subjects were equally divided into adopting one of two sitting strategies : a single ‘ static ’ or a ‘ dynamic ’ multiple posture approach . Within each individual , st and ing produced a distinctly diVerent spine posture compared with sitting , and st and ing spine postures did not overlap with flexion postures adopted in sitting when spine postures were averaged across all eight subjects . A rest component ( as noted in an amplitude probability distribution function from the EMG ) was present for all muscles monitored in both sitting and st and ing tasks . The upper and lower erector spinae muscle groups exhibited a shifting to higher levels of activation during sitting . There were no clear muscle activation level diVerences in the individuals who adopted diVerent sitting strategies . St and ing appears to be a good rest from sitting given the reduction in passive tissue forces . However , the constant loading with little dynamic movement which characterizes both st and ing and sitting would provide little rest/change for muscular activation levels or low back loading
Conclusion : sit-st and workstations may reduce low back pain  among workers .
Practitioner Summary : In a sedentary population , changing posture may reduce the chance of developing low back pain .
Abstract Background : Sit-st and workstations are proposed solutions to reduce sedentary time at work .
Numerous companies are using them to mitigate health concerns such as musculoskeletal discomfort .
Objective : To review the literature on sit-st and workstations and low back discomfort .