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Davidson JM, Callaghan JP. A week-long field study of seated pelvis and lumbar spine kinematics during office work. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2024; 122:104374. [PMID: 39255720 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2024.104374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
The study objective was to quantify "natural" seated pelvis and lumbar spine kinematics over multiple days of work at individuals' workstations. Twenty participants completed five days of their usual office work while seated time was characterized from a thigh-worn activity monitor. Seated pelvic tilt and lumbar spine flexion-extension were measured from tri-axial accelerometers. Seated time accounted for approximately 90% of participants' workdays. Sitting was characterized by posterior pelvic tilt and lumbar flexion (43-79% of maximum flexion) with an average of 9 shifts and 13 fidgets every 15 min. No significant differences emerged by sex or between days indicating that a single representative day can capture baseline sitting responses in the field. Average field kinematics tended to agree with the laboratory-collected kinematics, but postural variability was larger in the field. These kinematic values could be useful for designing interventions aimed at reducing spine flexion and increasing spine movement in occupational sitting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessa M Davidson
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jack P Callaghan
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
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Riazi S, Klahsen O, Al-rasheed M, Beaudette SM, Brown SHM. Non-invasive assessment of sacroiliac joint and lumbar spine positioning in different unilateral sitting postures. J Man Manip Ther 2024; 32:446-456. [PMID: 37882649 PMCID: PMC11257003 DOI: 10.1080/10669817.2023.2273005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) motion has been documented using invasive and noninvasive kinematic techniques. No study has explored SIJ angular positions in functional postures using noninvasive techniques. The purpose of this study was to quantify SIJ positioning among different seated postures in a healthy population. METHODS Twelve female and 11 male healthy young participants participated. Left and right anterior and posterior superior iliac spines were manually digitized during standing, neutral sitting and four different seated postures. Rigid bodies recorded the kinematics of the lumbar spine. Angles calculated included transverse sacroiliac angle, innominate sagittal angle, sacral tilt, lumbar flexion-extension, lumbar lateral bend and lumbar axial twist. FINDINGS The observed range of angular positions was approximately 3 to 4 degrees across the SIJ-related angles. The main effect of seated posture was observed for all angles measured. The main effect of sex was observed for all angles except lumbar lateral bending. Females consistently experienced more posterior sacral tilt than males. Interaction effects between sex and posture were only observed at the right-transverse sacroiliac angle and sacral tilt. Previous sitting posture affected the subsequent neutral sitting posture for the right-transverse sacroiliac angle and lumbar spine angle. INTERPRETATION SIJ angular position differences among the seated postures were similar in magnitude to motions previously reported in participants undergoing prone passive hip abduction and external rotation. Sex differences, including greater sacral posterior tilt observed in females, likely reflect underlying morphological and physiological differences. Future studies should explore SIJ positioning during functional tasks in pathological populations to help elucidate the underlying causes of SIJ pain and inform treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Riazi
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Olena Klahsen
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Stephen h. m. Brown
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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Kim JC, Kim JG, Kim BS, Kim CK, Choi M, Lee J, Chung SG. Assessing the Preservation of Lumbar Lordotic Curvature in Everyday Sitting Conditions Assessed with an Inertial Measurement System. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2728. [PMID: 38731257 PMCID: PMC11084529 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Lumbar lordotic curvature (LLC), closely associated with low back pain (LBP) when decreased, is infrequently assessed in clinical settings due to the spatiotemporal limitations of radiographic methods. To overcome these constraints, this study used an inertial measurement system to compare the magnitude and maintenance of LLC across various sitting conditions, categorized into three aspects: verbal instructions, chair type, and desk task types. Methods: Twenty-nine healthy participants were instructed to sit for 3 min with two wireless sensors placed on the 12th thoracic vertebra and the 2nd sacral vertebra. The lumbar lordotic angle (LLA) was measured using relative angles for the mediolateral axis and comparisons were made within each sitting category. Results: The maintenance of LLA (LLAdev) was significantly smaller when participants were instructed to sit upright (-3.7 ± 3.9°) compared to that of their habitual sitting posture (-1.2 ± 2.4°) (p = 0.001), while the magnitude of LLA (LLAavg) was significantly larger with an upright sitting posture (p = 0.001). LLAdev was significantly larger when using an office chair (-0.4 ± 1.1°) than when using a stool (-3.2 ± 7.1°) (p = 0.033), and LLAavg was also significantly larger with the office chair (p < 0.001). Among the desk tasks, LLAavg was largest during keyboard tasks (p < 0.001), followed by mouse and writing tasks; LLAdev showed a similar trend without statistical significance (keyboard, -1.2 ± 3.0°; mouse, -1.8 ± 2.2°; writing, -2.9 ± 3.1°) (p = 0.067). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that strategies including the use of an office chair and preference for computer work may help preserve LLC, whereas in the case of cueing, repetition may be necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Chan Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Traffic Injury Rehabilitation Hospital, Yangpyeong 12564, Republic of Korea;
| | - Jeong-Gil Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Armed Forces Yangju Hospital, Yangju 11429, Republic of Korea;
| | - Beom Suk Kim
- Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital, Gwangmyeong 14353, Republic of Korea;
| | - Cheol Ki Kim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea;
| | - Minseok Choi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea;
| | - Joonnyong Lee
- Mellowing Factory Co., Ltd., Seoul 06053, Republic of Korea;
| | - Sun Gun Chung
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Aging, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea
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4
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Bai Y, Kamarudin KM, Alli H. A systematic review of research on sitting and working furniture ergonomic from 2012 to 2022: Analysis of assessment approaches. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28384. [PMID: 38571611 PMCID: PMC10988004 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
This study analyses which aspects of sitting and working furniture ergonomics that may be influenced and how they are assessed. To gather information on the types and assessment techniques connected with influencing furniture ergonomics, a systematic review of the literature was conducted. The papers in the systematic review were published between 2012 and 2022. The articles applied the Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines to limit the 41 papers that were eventually included (N = 41) to those containing keywords like ergonomics, human factors, comfort, working furniture, Chair, assessment and evaluation. The research objective of this systematic review is to provide a comprehensive overview of sitting and working furniture and the main findings, obtaining common assessment techniques for this type of furniture and their suitability. According to the relevant studies, the publications were categorized by summarizing factors like region, gender, research methods, ergonomic assessment techniques and methods used, correlation between assessment techniques and methods, etc. Summaries of the data extracted from the included papers are provided and the applicability of some approaches are assessed. Only a small number of authors have evaluated the ergonomics of furniture used in homes. One of the research gaps is the paucity of research on gender segregation, secular trends, and cultural contexts. These studies heavily rely on quantitative research techniques, and the articles may lack credibility due to the homogeneity of the evaluation techniques. Finally, the authors offer some suggestions for the appropriate ergonomic analysis of furniture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Bai
- Industrial Design Department, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, 43400, Malaysia
| | - Khairul Manami Kamarudin
- Industrial Design Department, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, 43400, Malaysia
| | - Hassan Alli
- Industrial Design Department, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, 43400, Malaysia
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5
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De Carvalho DE, Callaghan JP. Effect of office chair design features on lumbar spine posture, muscle activity and perceived pain during prolonged sitting. ERGONOMICS 2023; 66:1465-1476. [PMID: 36437777 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2022.2152113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Chair design features are typically compared using multiple seats, which can lead to confounding effects. Using a single chair, configurable to four designs (control, lumbar support, seat pan tilt and scapular relief), we investigated the effect of chair design on spine posture and movement, muscle activity and perceived pain in a sample of 31 asymptomatic adults. A total of 39% of the population were classified as pain developers, having significantly higher peak pain levels across most body regions. The lumbar support and seat pan tilt condition resulted in more neutral spine and pelvic postures. Greater muscle activity was found in the seat pan condition and non-pain developers displayed lower spine muscle activation levels overall. Despite some improvements in spine posture, sitting-induced pain was present in the study sample at similar proportions to those reported previously. Future studies may consider investigating interventions targeted to sitting-induced pain developers as opposed to the general population. Practitioner summary: Four office chair configurations were tested. The lumbar support and seat pan tilt conditions resulted in the most neutral back posture but did not mitigate the clinically significant levels of sitting-induced pain experienced by a large portion of the tested sample. Future work should target interventions to these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- D E De Carvalho
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - J P Callaghan
- Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Allais R, Capart A, Da Silva A, Boiron O. Biomechanical consequences of the intervertebral disc centre of rotation kinematics during lateral bending and axial rotation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3172. [PMID: 36823433 PMCID: PMC9950088 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29551-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The location of the instantaneous centre of rotation (ICR) of a lumbar unit has a considerable clinical importance as a spinal health estimator. Consequently, many studies have been conducted to measure or estimate the ICR during rotations in the three anatomical planes; however the results reported are widely scattered. Even if some inter-subjects variability is to be expected, such inconsistencies are likely explained by the differences in methods and experiments. Therefore, in this paper we seek to model three behaviours of the ICR during lateral bending and axial rotation based on results published in the literature. In order to assess the metabolic and mechanical sensibility to the assumption made on the ICR kinematics, we used a previously validated three dimensional non-linear poroelastic model of a porcine intervertebral disc to simulate physiological lateral and axial rotations. The impact of the geometry was also briefly investigated by considering a 11[Formula: see text] wedge angle. From our simulations, it appears that the hypothesis made on the ICR location does not significantly affect the critical nutrients concentrations but gives disparate predictions of the intradiscal pressure at the centre of the disc (variation up to 0.7 MPa) and of the displacement fields (variation up to 0.4 mm). On the contrary, the wedge angle does not influence the estimated intradiscal pressure but leads to minimal oxygen concentration decreased up to 33% and increased maximal lactate concentration up to 13%. While we can not settle on which definition of the ICR is more accurate, this work suggests that patient-specific modeling of the ICR is required and brings new insights that can be useful for the development of new tools or the design of surgical material such as total lumbar disc prostheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Allais
- CNRS, Centrale Marseille, IRPHE, Aix Marseille Univ, 13013, Marseille, France.
| | - Antoine Capart
- grid.462364.10000 0000 9151 9019Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Anabela Da Silva
- grid.462364.10000 0000 9151 9019Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, 13013 Marseille, France
| | - Olivier Boiron
- grid.5399.60000 0001 2176 4817CNRS, Centrale Marseille, IRPHE, Aix Marseille Univ, 13013 Marseille, France
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Lamsal A, Weidig G, Bellingar T, Bush TR. Evaluating the biomechanics of an in-between posture to create a multi-posture office environment. Work 2023; 76:263-273. [PMID: 36847053 DOI: 10.3233/wor-220078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prolonged sitting during work is common and has been shown to cause health issues. However, changing working postures has been reported to reduce musculoskeletal issues and impact other health issues; thus, there is a need for an office environment with multiple choices of working postures. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in body position, body loading, and blood perfusion while in a seated, standing, and new office seating position, termed the in-between position. METHODS Ground reaction forces, joint angles, pelvic tilt, openness angle (angle between the pelvis plane and thorax), and blood perfusion were evaluated for three positions. A motion capture system with markers was used to capture the position of anatomical landmarks. A six-axis force plate was used to collect the ground reaction forces, and a laser doppler perfusion monitor was used to obtain the blood perfusion. RESULTS Data showed that the in-between position articulated the hips, which provided a hip and lumbar position closer to a standing posture than a seated posture. The average vertical ground reaction force in the in-between position was larger than the seated position but significantly smaller than during standing (p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in anterior/posterior ground reaction forces between the seated and the in-between positions (p = 0.4934). Lastly, blood perfusion increased during the dynamic transitions between positions indicating changes in blood flow. CONCLUSION The in-between position provides benefits of both standing (larger pelvic tilt and increased lumbar lordosis) and sitting (reduction in ground reaction forces).
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Lamsal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Garrett Weidig
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | | | - Tamara Reid Bush
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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8
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Frey M, Blanchard A, Skinner I, De Carvalho D. Effect of a 'spine offloading' chair design on seated height and posture. ERGONOMICS 2022; 65:976-986. [PMID: 34839811 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2021.2007290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A prototype chair with anterior chest and arm supports has been designed to reduce compressive spine loads. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of this offloading design on seated height compared to a control configuration of the same chair. 20 males sat on each configuration for 1 hour. Seated height, perceived pain, spine angles, seat pressure, and participant experience were measured. Spine height loss was significantly reduced in the offloading (-0.75 ± 3.79 mm) compared to the control configuration (-6.16 ± 4.27 mm, p < 0.001), and participants sat significantly more anterior on the seat pan in the offloading (20.56 ± 1.67 cm) compared to control configuration (18.03 ± 1.92 cm, p < 0.001). There were no differences in spine angles or perceived back and gluteal pain between configurations. This design appears to be a promising approach to protecting the back during sitting when engaging in forward leaning tasks where the offloading effect of a backrest may be minimised. Practitioner summary: A prototype chair with anterior chest and arm supports designed to offload the spine was shown to significantly reduce seated height loss during 1-hour of sitting compared to a control configuration. While participants perceived the offloading design to be more supportive, no differences in perceived pain or posture were found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Frey
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada
| | - Adam Blanchard
- School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada
| | - Ian Skinner
- School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada
| | - Diana De Carvalho
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada
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Robinson DL, Tse KM, Franklyn M, Zhang J, Fernandez JW, Ackland DC, Lee PVS. Specimen-specific fracture risk curves of lumbar vertebrae under dynamic axial compression. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2021; 118:104457. [PMID: 33780859 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Underbody blast attacks of military vehicles by improvised explosives have resulted in high incidence of lumbar spine fractures below the thorocolumbar junction in military combatants. Fracture risk curves related to vertical loading at individual lumbar spinal levels can be used to assess the protective ability of new injury mitigation equipment. The objectives of this study were to derive fracture risk curves for the lumbar spine under high rate compression and identify how specimen-specific attributes and lumbar spinal level may influence fracture risk. In this study, we tested a sample of three-vertebra specimens encompassing all spinal levels between T12 to S1 in high-rate axial compression. Each specimen was tested with a non-injurious load, followed by a compressive force sufficient to induce vertebral body fracture. During testing, bone fracture was identified using measurements from acoustic emission sensors and changes in load cell readings. Following testing, the fractures were assessed using computed tomographic (CT) imaging. The CT images showed isolated fractures of trabecular bone, or fractures involving both cortical and trabecular bone. Results from the compressive force measurements in conjunction with a survival analysis demonstrated that the compressive force corresponding to fracture increased inferiorly as a function of lumbar spinal level. The axial rigidity (EA) measured at the mid-plane of the centre vertebra or the volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) of the vertebral body trabecular bone most greatly influenced fracture risk. By including these covariates in the fracture risk curves, no other variables significantly affected fracture risk, including the lumbar spinal level. The fracture risk curves presented in this study may be used to assess the risk of injury at individual lumbar vertebra when exposed to dynamic axial compression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale L Robinson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kwong Ming Tse
- Department of Mechanical and Product Design Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - JiangYue Zhang
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - Justin W Fernandez
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - David C Ackland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter Vee Sin Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Notions of "optimal" posture are loaded with meaning. Perceptions of sitting posture among asymptomatic members of the community. Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2021; 51:102310. [PMID: 33281104 DOI: 10.1016/j.msksp.2020.102310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Notions of "optimal" posture are widespread in modern society and strongly interconnected with preconceived beliefs. OBJECTIVES To quantitatively evaluate spinal posture among members of the community during habitual sitting, and when asked to assume an "optimal" posture. DESIGN Observational study. METHODS Marker-based kinematic analyses of the head, spine, and pelvis were conducted on 100 individuals. Habitual sitting posture and self-perceived "optimal" posture, and whether participants believed that their habitual sitting reflected an "optimal" posture, were evaluated. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test assessed angular differences between the two postures adopted. Exploratory post-hoc analyses were conducted by using the Mann-Whitney U test to assess differences between genders. RESULTS None of the participants stated that their habitual sitting was "optimal". Statistically significant differences were observed in most of the measured angles (p < 0.001) between habitual and self-perceived "optimal" posture. In habitual sitting posture, a significant interaction with gender was found only in the thoracolumbar (p < 0.05) and pelvic (p < 0.001) angles, with small effect sizes. In self-perceived "optimal" posture females were more extended in the head, upper thoracic, lower thoracic, lumbar and pelvic (p < 0.01) regions, than the males. CONCLUSIONS A group of young, asymptomatic participants, consistently changed their habitual sitting posture to a more upright posture when asked to assume an "optimal" sitting posture, although the amount of change observed varied between spinal regions. These findings also highlight gender differences in not just habitual sitting posture, but also the degree to which habitual sitting posture is modified when trying to assume an "optimal" sitting posture.
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Liu Z, Cascioli V, McCarthy PW. Review of Measuring Microenvironmental Changes at the Body-Seat Interface and the Relationship between Object Measurement and Subjective Evaluation. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20236715. [PMID: 33255342 PMCID: PMC7727653 DOI: 10.3390/s20236715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Being seated has increasingly pervaded both working and leisure lifestyles, with development of more comfortable seating surfaces dependent on feedback from subjective questionnaires and design aesthetics. As a consequence, research has become focused on how to objectively resolve factors that might underpin comfort and discomfort. This review summarizes objective methods of measuring the microenvironmental changes at the body–seat interface and examines the relationship between objective measurement and subjective sensation. From the perspective of physical parameters, pressure detection accounted for nearly two thirds (37/54) of the publications, followed by microclimatic information (temperature and relative humidity: 18/54): it is to be noted that one article included both microclimate and pressure measurements and was placed into both categories. In fact, accumulated temperature and relative humidity at the body–seat interface have similarly negative effects on prolonged sitting to that of unrelieved pressure. Another interesting finding was the correlation between objective measurement and subjective evaluation; however, the validity of this may be called into question because of the differences in experiment design between studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuofu Liu
- The Higher Educational Key Laboratory for Measuring and Control Technology and Instrumentations of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150080, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-139-0451-2205
| | - Vincenzo Cascioli
- Murdoch University Chiropractic Clinic, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, Australia;
| | - Peter W. McCarthy
- Faculty of Life Science and Education, University of South Wales, Treforest, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, UK;
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Russell BS, Muhlenkamp-Wermert KA, Hoiriis KT. Measurement of Lumbar Lordosis: A Comparison of 2 Alternatives to the Cobb Angle. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2020; 43:760-767. [PMID: 32888701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2020.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to compare 2 alternative methods, the radiologic Harrison Posterior Tangent Method (HPTM) and the nonradiologic Spinal Mouse (SM), to the Cobb angle for measuring lumbar lordosis. METHODS Sixteen participants with previously existing lateral lumbopelvic radiographs underwent nonradiographic lordosis assessment with a Spinal Mouse. Then 2 investigators analyzed each radiograph twice using the Harrison Posterior Tangent Method and Cobb angle. Correlations were analyzed between HPTM, the Cobb angle, and SM using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient; intraexaminer and interexaminer agreement were analyzed for HPTM and the Cobb angle using intraclass correlation coefficients. RESULTS The HPTM correlated highly with the Cobb angle (Spearman ρ = 0.936, P < .001); SM had moderate to strong correlations with the Cobb angle (ρ = 0.737, P = .002) and HPTM (ρ = 0.707, P = .003). Intraexaminer and interexaminer agreement for the Cobb angle and HPTM were excellent (all intraclass correlation coefficients > 0.90). One participant had slight kyphosis according to HPTM and SM analyses (which consider the entire lumbar region), whereas the Cobb angle, based only on L1 and L5, reported mild lordosis for that participant. CONCLUSION In this sample, HPTM measurements showed high correlation with the commonly used Cobb angle, but this method requires more time and effort, and normal values have not been established. The SM may be an alternative when radiographs are inappropriate, but it measures soft tissue contours rather than lordosis itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent S Russell
- Dr. Sid E. Williams Center for Chiropractic Research, Life University, Marietta, Georgia.
| | | | - Kathryn T Hoiriis
- Dr. Sid E. Williams Center for Chiropractic Research, Life University, Marietta, Georgia
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13
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Rabal-Pelay J, Cimarras-Otal C, Berzosa C, Bernal-Lafuente M, Ballestín-López JL, Laguna-Miranda C, Planas-Barraguer JL, Bataller-Cervero AV. Spinal sagittal alignment, spinal shrinkage and back pain changes in office workers during a workday. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND ERGONOMICS 2020; 28:1-7. [PMID: 31813341 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2019.1701238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Purpose. Prolonged sitting is a risk factor for the appearance of lower back pain during work. The aim of this study was to observe changes in spinal sagittal alignment, height and the perception of back pain in office workers during a workday. Materials and methods. Forty-one office workers (20 women) were enrolled into a cross-sectional study. Height, sitting height and degrees of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis as well as perceived neck pain, lower back pain and upper back pain were determined, before and after an 8-h workday. Results. At the end of the day, workers had a significant decrease (p = 0.000) in height and sitting height, and upper back pain increased significantly (p = 0.023). In men, spinal shrinkage correlated with neck pain (r = 0.410, p = 0.027), and lumbar lordosis degrees in women correlated negatively with upper back pain at the end of the day (r = -0.440, p = 0.012). Conclusions. Spinal shrinkage equally affects men and women who perform the same work. There are no changes in spinal sagittal alignment throughout the workday in office workers. Office workers show significantly increased pain in the upper back at the end of the day.
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Gruevski KM, Callaghan JP. The effect of age on in-vivo spine stiffness, postures and discomfort responses during prolonged sitting exposures. ERGONOMICS 2019; 62:917-927. [PMID: 30889363 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2019.1596317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Many industrialised working populations are ageing and prolonged sitting exposures are prevalent across occupational sectors. The purpose of this work was to determine the effect of age and sex on passive spine stiffness, postures and discomfort in response to seated work. A total of 34 participants were recruited, with 17 older adults with an average age of (standard deviation) 63.7 (±3.9) years and 17 younger adults aged 23.8 (±5.0) years. Participants were asked to sit continuously for 90 min while typing. Baseline passive spine stiffness was higher in older adults at 40% flexion compared to younger adults (p = .0233). Older adults sat in less normalised flexion, at 33.4% (±16.4) compared to 60.9% (±20.2) in the younger group (p = .0003). Discomfort was higher among older adults in the neck, right shoulder and middle back regions (p < .0086). An understanding of age-specific responses to workplace exposures is essential to determine whether age-specific interventions are warranted. Practitioner summary: Older adults had higher passive spine stiffness and sat with less flexion during prolonged sitting. Discomfort was higher among older adults and occurred earlier in the simulation compared to younger participants, indicating that interventions, such as walking breaks may need to be implemented earlier during sitting for aged workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M Gruevski
- a Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences , University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada
| | - Jack P Callaghan
- a Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences , University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada
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15
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Frey M, Poynter A, Younge K, De Carvalho D. The relationship between lumbopelvic flexibility and sitting posture in adult women. J Biomech 2019; 84:204-210. [PMID: 30678889 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2018.12.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Clinical observations have suggested that limited hamstring flexibility may be associated with sagittal spinal curvatures in spine flexed postures. Thus, limited hamstring flexibility may be related to large amounts of spine flexion in "slumped" sitting postures which could contribute to low back pain and injury. The aim of this study was to determine if hamstring and pelvic flexibility are associated with flexed sitting postures using a backless office chair. Forty-one healthy female adults aged 18-69 years were recruited. Subjects performed the Sit-and-Reach test to determine maximum flexibility values and lumbar and pelvic angles were measured with accelerometers. Participants then completed a standardized typing task for a 10-minute sitting trial at an ergonomically adjusted workstation. The results showed no association between hamstring flexibility and seated lumbar spine and pelvic angles (p = 0.999, η2 = 0.000; p = 0.901, η2 = 0.006). Greater pelvic flexibility was associated with a more upright lumbar sitting posture (p = 0.023; η2 = 0.132) but with no specific pelvic sitting posture (p = 0.660; η2 = 0.005). Different movement strategies during the Sit-and-Reach test were detected: all participants moved through their lumbar spine; but only those with 'excellent' flexibility also used their pelvis. Individuals in the 'excellent' flexibility group were significantly shorter than those with 'poor' and 'good' flexibility (p = 0.020; η2 = 0.190). In conclusion, hamstring flexibility does not influence sitting posture but pelvic flexibility does. Other factors such as acetabulofemoral joint limitations, consciousness of posture, or the seat itself may also influence sitting posture. Different movement strategies as well as height appear to contribute to the Sit-and-Reach test which should be researched further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Frey
- School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
| | - Alison Poynter
- School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada
| | - Keisha Younge
- School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada
| | - Diana De Carvalho
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
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Assessment of the ergonomic risk from saddle and conventional seats in dentistry: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0208900. [PMID: 30557311 PMCID: PMC6296655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to verify whether the saddle seat provides lower ergonomic risk than conventional seats in dentistry. Methods This review followed the PRISMA statement and a protocol was created and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017074918). Six electronic databases were searched as primary study sources. The "grey literature" was included to prevent selection and publication biases. The risk of bias among the studies included was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool for Systematic Reviews. Meta-analysis was performed to estimate the effect of seat type on the ergonomic risk score in dentistry. The heterogeneity among studies was assessed using I2 statistics. Results The search resulted in 3147 records, from which two were considered eligible for this review. Both studies were conducted with a total of 150 second-year dental students who were starting their laboratory activities using phantom heads. Saddle seats were associated with a significantly lower ergonomic risk than conventional seats [right side (mean difference = -3.18; 95% CI = -4.96, -1.40; p < 0.001) and left side (mean difference = -3.12; 95% CI = -4.56, -1.68; p < 0.001)], indicating posture improvement. Conclusion The two eligible studies for this review provide moderate evidence that saddle seats provided lower ergonomic risk than conventional seats in the examined population of dental students.
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Sheeran L, Hemming R, van Deursen R, Sparkes V, Jin Z. Can different seating aids influence a sitting posture in healthy individuals and does gender matter? COGENT ENGINEERING 2018; 5:1442109. [PMID: 30023408 PMCID: PMC6034358 DOI: 10.1080/23311916.2018.1442109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
This study determined differences in spinal-pelvic kinematics sitting on (i) mat (ii) block and (iii) novel 10º forward inclined wedge (ButtaflyTM) in a same-subject repeated measures cross-over design in 60 healthy individuals (34 females). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences between sitting conditions and lumbar and pelvic sagittal angles. Both, the inclined wedge and the block seating aids reduced overall flexion, but the inclined wedge had a greater influence in the lumbar region whilst the block induced the greatest change in the pelvis. This may be relevant for seating aid design personalised to posture type. Statistically significant gender differences were identified in all 3 seating conditions with males adopting more flexed lumbar spine and posteriorly tilted pelvis. Females flexed less in thoracic spine when sitting on an inclined wedge and a block. These statistically significant differences between males and females may provide first explorative direction for bespoke seating aids design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liba Sheeran
- School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, 13th Floor Eastgate House, 35–43 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AB, Wales, UK
- Research Centre for Clinical Kinaesiology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
- Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Centre, School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
- Corresponding author: Liba Sheeran, School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, 13th Floor Eastgate House, 35–43 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AB, Wales, UK; Research Centre for Clinical Kinaesiology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK; Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Centre, School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK. E-mail:
| | - Rebecca Hemming
- School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, 13th Floor Eastgate House, 35–43 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AB, Wales, UK
| | - Robert van Deursen
- School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, 13th Floor Eastgate House, 35–43 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AB, Wales, UK
- Research Centre for Clinical Kinaesiology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
- Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Centre, School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Valerie Sparkes
- School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, 13th Floor Eastgate House, 35–43 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AB, Wales, UK
- Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Centre, School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Zhongmin Jin
- Xian Jiao Tong University, China
- Leeds University, UK
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Matsuda T, Koyama T, Kurihara Y, Tagami M, Kusumoto Y, Nitta O. A newly developed floor chair placed on an office chair reduces lumbar muscle fatigue by cyclically changing its lumbar supporting shape. J Phys Ther Sci 2017; 29:1649-1652. [PMID: 28932006 PMCID: PMC5599839 DOI: 10.1589/jpts.29.1649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
[Purpose] This study investigated lumbar muscle fatigue before and after maintaining a
seated position for one hour, lumbar and pelvic inclination angle change, in subjects with
and without active lumber support. [Subjects and Methods] Fourteen healthy subjects
randomized into two groups sat on a floor chair, placed on an office chair, that
cyclically changed its lumbar supporting shape to provide active lumbar support (ALS) or
no ALS for one hour. Before and after, we measured the frequency of muscle waveforms of
the trunk extensor muscles when the subjects lifted an object weighing 10% of their body
weight, using both hands while seated. In addition, ROMt (Range of motion test) of trunk
rotation, degree of fatigue and muscle stiffness were analyzed. [Results] Muscle frequency
while lifting the weight decreased significantly without ALS compared to with ALS. Mean
muscle stiffness increased, ROMt decreased in desk work task significantly without ALS
compared to with ALS. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the lumbar muscles became
fatigued, because low frequencies, increased muscle stiffness, and decreased ROMt without
ALS. We suggest lumbar muscle fatigue was maintained low for subjects seated in a chair
with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadamitsu Matsuda
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Social Work Studies, Josai International University: 1 Gumyo, Togane, Chiba 283-8555, Japan
| | | | - Yasushi Kurihara
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Social Work Studies, Josai International University: 1 Gumyo, Togane, Chiba 283-8555, Japan
| | - Miki Tagami
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Social Work Studies, Josai International University: 1 Gumyo, Togane, Chiba 283-8555, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Kusumoto
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo University of Technology, Japan
| | - Osamu Nitta
- Graduate School of Human Health Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan
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