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
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
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 .