Ergonomic Comparison of a Sit-Stand Workstation With a Traditional Workstation in Visual Display Unit Work

Abstract

Abstract:Purpose: To compare ergonomics of an electrically adjustable sit-stand workstation with a traditional workstation in video display unit (VDU) work.Methods: Twelve female workers (aged 27-53 years) participated in this experimental study. Electromyography, wrist postures, subjective assessments, and productivity were used to make the ergonomic comparison. Results:The muscle activity of the right trapezius (p=0.01) and left wrist extensors (p=0.02), extension of the right (p=0.05) and left (p=0.002) wrist, and perceived strain of the arms (p=0.05) were lower and productivity was better (p=0.02) when the workers used a low-sitting, high-sitting, or standing posture at the sit-stand workstation than when using a low-sitting posture at the traditional workstation. In the whole, the subjects were more satisfied (p=0.05) with the sit-stand workstation than with the traditional workstation.Conclusions: Working both in sitting and standing postures was more productive and caused lower strain of the workers' upper limbs than work only in a sitting posture. The electrically adjustable sit-stand workstation offers the possibility to reduce the sedentary behavior and inactivity in VDU work.

Breaking up workplace sitting time with intermittent standing bouts improves fatigue and musculoskeletal discomfort in overweight/obese office workers

“…Our findings also complement previous ergonomic studies that show the short-term use of height-adjustable workstations by computer workers can help to reduce musculoskeletal discomfort16; our study has, as well, added to the emerging evidence base that shows alternating between a sit/stand work posture can benefit worker productivity and fatigue 13 15 16…”

“…We also conducted the study over 5 consecutive workdays; most ergonomics studies examining the effect of altering between a sit/stand posture on productivity, fatigue and musculoskeletal health have only done so acutely (i.e. 42–150 min duration) 15 16 27…”

“…Short-duration work tasks that require alternating between sitting and standing postures have also been shown to reduce monotonous feelings of fatigue15 and musculoskeletal exposure 16. This is possibly because a ‘combination of postures’ helps to lower the chronic static work load that can be placed on postural muscles, compared with constant sitting or standing postures.…”

“…Two recent studies performed under controlled16 and free-living8 conditions compared the use of a height-adjustable workstation with a traditional workstation and found that workers who modestly reduced their occupational sitting time (40–66 min per workday) also reported improved upper body musculoskeletal symptoms, task accuracy, productivity and mood; whether similar effects would occur from greater reductions in occupational sitting time is unclear.…”

Quantification of lower extremity physical exposures in various combinations of sit/stand time duration associated with sit-stand workstation

“…Some studies were associated with sit/stand posture in an ergonomic perspective mainly focused on the physical load of low back, shoulder and upper extremity [8,20,21]. Few, if any, studies proved data or evidence of quantification of lower extremity exposures.…”