Musculoskeletal and Cognitive Effects of a Movement Intervention During Prolonged Standing for Office Work

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether use of a movement intervention when undertaking prolonged standing affected discomfort and cognitive function.

BACKGROUND

Alternate work positions to break up prolonged sitting for office workers are being trialed, such as standing. Prolonged standing has potential negative health implications, including low back and lower limb discomfort, and may influence cognitive function. Introducing movement during standing may provide a healthy and productive alternative work posture.

METHOD

Twenty adult participants undertook a laboratory study of 2 hr of standing and standing with movement (using a footrest) while performing computer work. Changes in discomfort and cognitive function, with muscle fatigue, low back angle, pelvis movement, lower limb swelling, and mental state, were investigated.

RESULTS

Discomfort increased significantly over time across all body regions. Ankle/foot differed between conditions (incident rate ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.89 [1.10-3.23]), with higher discomfort during standing with movement. Creative problem-solving errors increased during standing with movement and decreased during standing (Time × Condition: β = 0.64 [0.10-1.18]), with no other cognitive function measure differences. Mental state deteriorated over time for both conditions, greater during standing with movement (Time × Condition: β = 2.44 [0.23-4.66]). No significant interaction effects were found for the other outcome variables.

CONCLUSION

Standing with movement provided no advantage in discomfort or cognitive function. There were some negative effects for ankle/foot discomfort and creative problem solving. An alternate footrest design and protocol for use may yield more favorable results.

APPLICATION

Based on the results from this study, footrest use to raise alternative foot for forced 5-min intervals would not be recommended to assist with managing discomfort while prolonged standing in workplaces.

Occupational physical activity assessment for chronic disease prevention and management: A review of methods for both occupational health practitioners and researchers

Occupational physical activity (OPA) is an occupational exposure that impacts worker health. OPA is amenable to measurement and modification through the hierarchy of controls. Occupational exposure scientists have roles in addressing inadequate physical activity, as well as excessive or harmful physical activity. Occupational health researchers can contribute to the development of novel OPA exposure assessment techniques and to epidemiologic studies examining the health impacts of physical activity at work. Occupational health practitioners stand to benefit from understanding the strengths and limitations of physical activity measurement approaches, such as accelerometers in smartphones, which are already ubiquitous in many workplaces and in some worksite health programs. This comprehensive review of the literature provides an overview of physical activity monitoring for occupational exposure scientists. This article summarizes data on the public health implications of physical activity at work, highlighting complex relationships with common chronic diseases. This article includes descriptions of several techniques that have been used to measure physical activity at work and elsewhere, focusing in detail on pedometers, accelerometers, and Global Positioning System technology. Additional subjective and objective measurement strategies are described as well.