Relationship between using tables, chairs, and computers and improper postures when doing VDT work in work from home

Abstract

This study focused on everyday furniture and computers used in work from home and aimed to investigate how improper postures increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders using different combinations of tables, chairs, and computers. Twenty-one healthy participants were asked to perform a visual display terminal task for 30 minutes in a laboratory modeled on the work from home concept. Seven experimental conditions were set up according to the different combinations of desks, chairs, and computers. Three-dimensional body posture was measured using a magnetic tracking device. The results showed that when using a low table, floor chair, and laptop computer, the body posture above the hip was similar to that when using a dining table, chair, and desktop computer. When using a sofa, and tablet computers, or laptop computer, severe neck flexion, which is stressful to the neck, was observed. Moreover, excessive low back flexion was observed when using a floor cushion and laptop computer. We suggest that computer work while sitting on a sofa or floor cushion without a backrest is harmful to the neck and low back.

Computer and Furniture Affecting Musculoskeletal Problems and Work Performance in Work From Home During COVID-19 Pandemic

“…After conducting a study on working postures in VDT work with various furniture including floor chair, floor cushion, and sofa, results showed that the neck flexion angle when using a sofa and a floor cushion was significantly larger when compared with using a dining chair. 10 Specifically, the neck angle created when using a sofa was in the critical zone of the ISO 11226 standard. 17 The poor posture on using sofas and floor cushions may explain the high risk of mild neck/shoulder pain in the WFH setup.…”

“…However, the neck flexion angle of using a laptop computer was suggested to be in the critical range of neck pain only in a setup without a proper desk. 10 Besides, using an adjuster to elevate the screen height and modify the keyboard location of a laptop computer was reported to reduce the neck flexion angle and relative muscle activities. 21 No significant association between computers and neck pain or low back may be due to part of the participants in the present study using proper furniture and adjusters.…”

“…Using floor cushions and sofas was found to have a high risk for mild neck/shoulder pain. After conducting a study on working postures in VDT work with various furniture including floor chair, floor cushion, and sofa, results showed that the neck flexion angle when using a sofa and a floor cushion was significantly larger when compared with using a dining chair 10 . Specifically, the neck angle created when using a sofa was in the critical zone of the ISO 11226 standard 17 .…”

“…Experimental studies 10,20 reported that using a laptop computer developed a large angle of neck flexion compared with using a desktop computer. However, the neck flexion angle of using a laptop computer was suggested to be in the critical range of neck pain only in a setup without a proper desk 10 . Besides, using an adjuster to elevate the screen height and modify the keyboard location of a laptop computer was reported to reduce the neck flexion angle and relative muscle activities 21 .…”

“…In addition to this, traditional furniture such as the low table (kotatsu), floor chair (zaisu), and floor cushion (zabuton), which are much different from western furniture, is still wildly used in Japanese families. A recent study 10 showed that working with a floor cushion or sofa without a table developed stressful postures to the neck and lower back. There may be some living furniture, which is improper for the health of homeworkers and also affect the work performance.…”