Investigation of Sitting Postural Angle and Muscle Activity on Ageing Women Workforce during Computer Task

Abstract

Abstract. Few studies have investigated sitting posture and muscle activity during computer work. This study aims to determine sitting postural angle and its influence on neck and low back muscle activity in ageing women workforce during computer task. Seventeen female workers aged 50 and above participated. Surface electromyography activity was recorded from cervical erector spinae, lumbar multifidus, longgisimus and iliocostalis in 20 minutes computer task. Concurrently inclinometer recordings from upper trunk and pelvis were used to determine back posture. The results for the upper trunk angle show that the posture deviates from the sagittal plane in range -10 to 10 degree during the task. While the pelvic rotated forward and backward in range -15 to 15 degree.Neutral sitting posture with slight extension or flexion of the upper trunk and pelvic posture performed by ageing women workforce during computer work cause reduction in muscle activity. Higher level of muscle activity was indicated in back flexion rather than back extension.