More Research Needed to Find Proper Guidelines for Sit-Stand Workstations

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ISE Magazine – Volume 49: Number 02

Prolonged seated postures, physical inactivity and repetitive movement all contribute to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. little research has been done to quantify the differences in posture and muscle loading when performing static, repetitive computer tasks. For the purpose of this study, physical differences (muscle activity, joint angles and subjective discomfort) were quantified when interrupting sedentary work with short periods of standing using a sit-to-stand workstation across varying computer configurations (desktop, laptop and docked laptop with peripherals).

Participants re-created text from a textbook into an electronic document for the entire test session. urface electromyography recorded muscle activity for the shoulders, forearm and lower back; electrogoniometers tracked back, neck and elbow angles; and surveys captured changes in physical discomfort over the course of the trials. Higher muscle activity in the trapezius when seated (4.9 percent MVC) compared to standing (2.4 percent MVC) suggested an increased load while seated. t was concluded that sit-to-stand workstations can improve musculoskeletal comfort.