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 .
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
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
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 .