ABSTRACT
Prolonged sitting can cause health problems and musculoskeletal discomfort. There is a need for objective and non-obstructive means of measuring sitting behavior. A 'smart' office chair can monitor sitting behavior and provide tactile feedback, aiming to improve sitting behavior. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the feedback signal on sitting behavior and musculoskeletal discomfort. In a 12-week prospective cohort study (ABCB design) among office workers (n = 45) was measured sitting duration and posture, feedback signals and musculoskeletal discomfort. Between the study phases, small changes were observed in mean sitting duration, posture and discomfort. After turning off the feedback signal, a slight increase in sitting duration was observed (10 min, p = 0.04), a slight decrease in optimally supported posture (2.8%, p < 0.01), and musculoskeletal discomfort (0.8, p < 0.01) was observed. We conclude that the 'smart' chair is able to monitor the sitting behavior, the feedback signal, however, led to small or insignificant changes.
Subject(s)
Ergonomics/instrumentation , Interior Design and Furnishings , Posture , Work/physiology , Workplace/psychology , Adult , Aged , Ergonomics/methods , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Sedentary Behavior , Time Factors , User-Computer Interface , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the short-term outcome of a back school program for patients suffering from chronic, nonspecific low back pain (LBP). DESIGN: Quasi-experimental cohort study with a waiting list control group. SETTING: Dutch rehabilitation department. PARTICIPANTS: Experimental group (n = 14) participating in the back school program and a waiting list control group (n = 10). INTERVENTION: A back school program aimed to achieve optimal functional capacity and functional health status by teaching participants to react appropriately to overload signals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional capacity assessed by the RAND-36 instrument; functional health status assessed by the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire; and static and dynamic lifting capacity, endurance, and range of motion assessed by objective measures. RESULTS: The experimental group significantly improved in functional capacity and functional health status, with a large power, likely attributable to adequate reactions to signals of overload. Significant differences existed between the 2 groups, with large powers for the main outcomes. CONCLUSION: The back school program improved the functional capacity and functional health status of patients with chronic, nonspecific LBP.
