The influence of age, biological sex, anthropometrics, and neck characteristics on external occipital protuberance size.

Background: 40-45 % of the population presents with enlarged external occipital protuberances (EEOPs), which can lead to pain. EEOP occurrence is higher in younger males; however, the reason is debated. We used plane lateral radiographs to investigate how anthropometrics, age, biological sex, head and neck kinematics, and neck strength differ between those with and without an EEOP.

User experience with ultrawide curved displays: A mixed methods analysis.

Due to the trend of replacing dual displays with ultrawide (UW) curved displays, we used a mixed methods analysis to investigate the user experience with UW curved displays. We conducted an experimental laboratory study that quantified user self-selected positions for three displays - 24 in. flat panel, and 34 in.

Prolonged Standing-Induced Low Back Pain Is Linked to Extended Lumbar Spine Postures: A Study Linking Lumped Lumbar Spine Passive Stiffness to Standing Posture.

Postural assessments of the lumbar spine lack valuable information about its properties. The purpose of this study was to assess neutral zone (NZ) characteristics via in vivo lumbar spine passive stiffness and relate NZ characteristics to standing lumbar lordosis. A comparison was made between those that develop low back pain during prolonged standing (pain developers) and those that do not (nonpain developers).

Musculoskeletal pain latent classes and biopsychosocial characteristics among emerging adults.

Background: Emerging adults (aged 18-29) report high levels of musculoskeletal pain; however, it is unknown if body location and intensity patterns are related to different biopsychosocial characteristics. This study identified patterns of self-reported musculoskeletal pain among emerging adults and assessed if there were differences in their lifestyle and psychological characteristics.

Methods: Data from survey responses from a large public university and a large medical university in the United States were used (n = 1,318).

A Conceptual Model for the Impact of Occupational Standing on Enterprise Outcomes Using an Inductive Content Analysis of California Lawsuits.

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSIn this paper, we provide a framework for practitioners when (re)designing tasks that historically have required standing in the workplace. While the goal is not to remove standing from all jobs, practitioners must work with management to align health and safety outcomes related to standing at work with the enterprise's main outcomes. Practitioners should also be made aware that in many of these jobs, standing has been required because, in the enterprise's judgment, it improves performance and customer service.

Defining the lumbar and trunk-thigh neutral zone from the passive stiffness curve: application to hybrid sit-stand postures and chair design.

Minimal data exist on the neutral position for the lumbar spine, trunk, and thighs when adopting a hybrid posture. This study examined sex differences in the neutral zone lumbar stiffness and the lumbar and trunk-thigh angle boundaries of the neutral zone, and determined if the standing lumbar angle fell within the neutral zone. Passive lumbar flexion and extension moment-angle curves were generated for 31 participants (13 M, 18 F), pooled from two datasets, with trunk-thigh angles available for 10 participants.

Acute Pain, Neck Extensor Endurance, and Kinematic Changes Resulting from Sustained Neck Flexion during Smartphone Use.

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSThe National Occupational Research Agenda for Musculoskeletal Health in the United States identified that with the changing nature of the traditional office environment, mobile devices are now frequently used for longer durations, warranting research on the impacts of mobile computing on musculoskeletal health. A recent study of office workers showed that those with "smartphone overuse" were six times more likely to report neck pain. Working in pain may also result in withdrawal and less proactive extra-role behaviors at work (such as making recommendations at work and willing to help colleagues).

Anti-fatigue mats can reduce low back discomfort in transient pain developers.

Complaints of musculoskeletal pain are common among employees who stand for prolonged periods. This study sought to determine if an anti-fatigue mat (AFM) could uniquely affect low back pain (LBP), low back posture, and foot-floor interface responses in individuals prone to developing LBP (termed pain developers (PDs)) during prolonged standing experiments compared to those who do not develop LBP under the same exposures (termed non pain developers (NPDs)). Sixteen volunteers (8 PDs and 8 NPDs) were recruited based on their pain-development tendencies, which were established in previous standing experiments.

Relationships between grit, physical activity, and academic success in university students: Domains of physical activity matter.

ObjectiveTo examine the relationships between contexts of physical activity, grit, and GPA in a college population.875 Undergraduate students from a large, southern university participated between October 2018 and March 2020.Participants completed an electronic survey evaluating physical activity and grit.

Examining Potential User Experience Trade-Offs Between Common Computer Display Configurations.

Objective: To determine how ultrawide (UW) and dual displays configurations can influence neck biomechanics and performance compared to a single display.

Background: Studies have assessed neck kinematics and performance when using dual displays, but these studies have used screen sizes smaller than today's display size, have inconsistent participant placement, and few have assessed these two variables together.

Methods: Seventeen participants completed five tasks on six display configurations.

Cervical Spine Musculotendon Lengths When Reading a Tablet in Three Seated Positions.

A popular posture for using wireless technology is reclined sitting, with the trunk rotated posteriorly to the hips. This position decreases the head's gravitational moment; however, the head angle relative to the trunk is similar to that of upright sitting when using a tablet in the lap. This study compared cervical extensor musculotendon length changes from neutral among 3 common sitting postures and maximum neck flexion while using a tablet.

Intrigue surrounding the life-cycles of species of Clistobothrium (Cestoda: Phyllobothriidea) parasitising large pelagic sharks.

This study aimed to locate the adults, and thus also the definitive hosts, of three species of marine mammal-parasitising larval cestodes that have molecular affinities with Clistobothrium. New collections led to the discovery of adults of two new species of Clistobothrium, one from the longfin mako shark and one from the salmon shark. New material of Clistobothrium tumidum was collected from the great white shark and new material of a previously reported undescribed species of Clistobothrium was collected from the porbeagle shark.

Pain symptoms are reported earlier than quantitative measures of low back pain during prolonged standing.

Background: Along with quantitative measures, pain symptoms may help inform early interventions to prevent prolonged standing induced low back pain (LBP); however, the relationship between quantitative and qualitative measures has not been assessed.

Objective: Determine the relationship between qualitative and quantitative measures of pain development during prolonged standing induced LBP development.

Methods: Thirty-five participants performed two-hours of standing.

Increasing standing tolerance in office workers with standing-induced back pain.

Sit-stand desks are popular however many people have standing-induced low back pain (LBP). People with LBP have fewer standing weight shifts compared with back-healthy people. Participants were classified as standing-tolerant or intolerant.

Does Using Multiple Computer Monitors for Office Tasks Affect User Experience? : A Systematic Review.

Objective: To compare the impact of multiple computer monitor configurations on health and performance outcomes compared to the use of a single monitor.

Background: Multiple monitor configurations are used in office settings to promote increased productivity by providing more screen space; however, it is unknown if there are health-related trade-offs to increased productivity.

Method: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA statement guidelines and adapted the best evidence synthesis.

Sex and Height Influence Neck Posture When Using Electronic Handheld Devices.

With increased tablet ownership in the United States comes increased levels of neck flexion compared to desktop or laptop computer use, and these neck postures have been linked to increases in neck pain. Importantly, tablet viewing postures can be achieved in multiple ways and could be determined by the morphology of the individual and/or other extraneous factors. In this study, we aim to preliminarily evaluate how neck postures vary during tablet use among individuals and link this variation to other factors such as sex, height, weight, presence/absence of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), and morphology of the head and neck.

Does proactive cyclic usage of a footrest prevent the development of standing induced low back pain?

Various interventions, such as standing intermittently with one leg on a footrest, have been suggested to prevent low back pain (LBP) development during prolonged standing. To assess this standing intervention twelve participants stood for 80 min while cycling through three minute periods of level-ground standing divided by one minute periods with either the right or left leg elevated onto a platform. All participants had previously participated in a prolonged level standing protocol and were classified as pain (PD) or non-pain developers (NPD).

Walking breaks can reduce prolonged standing induced low back pain.

Standing is commonly recommended to reduce sedentary behavior in the workplace; however, constrained prolonged standing has also been linked to musculoskeletal symptoms, such as low back pain (LBP). Light physical activity breaks, such as walking, may change lumbar spine posture enough to reduce LBP during standing. This study assessed the effectiveness of inserting 5-minute walking breaks every 25 min for reducing prolonged standing-induced LBP development.

Prolonged standing increases lower limb arterial stiffness.

Purpose: Standing workstations have recently been promoted as a healthy alternative to sitting. However, it is unknown how prolonged standing affects arterial stiffness, a prognostic indicator of cardiovascular health. The purpose of this study was twofold: to observe changes in arterial stiffness, as assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), with a 2-h bout of standing, and to determine if short, intermittent walking bouts provide a comparative advantage to standing alone.

A radiographic investigation of cervical spine kinematics when reading a tablet in a reclined trunk position.

The purpose of this study was to use radiographic measurements to compare cervical spine kinematics in various tablet computer reading postures. Radiographs were taken of twenty-two participants reading a tablet computer in five different postures. The lower cervical spine was more flexed in the semi-reclined (-8.

The distribution of lumbar intervertebral angles in upright standing and extension is related to low back pain developed during standing.

Background: Lumbar lordosis measures are poorly related to clinical low back pain, however using a controlled exposure such as prolonged standing to identify pain groups may clarify this relationship. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of lumbar intervertebral angles in asymptomatic persons who do (pain developers) and do not (non-pain developers) develop low back pain during standing.

Methods: Sagittal plane lumbar spine radiographs of eight pain developers and eight non-pain developers were taken in three poses: upright standing, full extension and full flexion.

Low back pain development differentially influences centre of pressure regularity following prolonged standing.

Occupations requiring prolonged periods of static standing are associated with the development of low back pain (LBP). Certain individuals are susceptible to LBP development during prolonged standing (pain developers, PDs) while others are not (non-pain developers, NPDs). Linear centre of pressure (COP) measures suggest that standing balance control is negatively influenced following prolonged standing, and that PDs and NPDs may be differentially affected.

The influence of a semi-reclined seated posture on head and neck kinematics and muscle activity while reading a tablet computer.

Increased tablet computer usage calls for a proper understanding of potential injury risks from these devices. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of tablet computer reading postures on head and neck flexion and muscle activity. Nineteen participants completed read a tablet computer in four different postures (standard computer monitor, tablet on a desk, tablet in the lap, semi-reclined with tablet in the lap).

Influence of input device, work surface angle, and task on spine kinematics.

Background: With the increase of tablet usage in both office and industrial workplaces, it is critical to investigate the influence of tablet usage on spine posture and movement.

Objective: To quantify spine kinematics while participants interacted with a tablet or desktop computer.

Methods: Fourteen participants volunteered for this study.

Influence of an oblique path of staircase descent on toe placement and foot clearance.

During their commute, pedestrians encounter a variety of staircase designs. One such design is the oblique staircase that allows pedestrians to descend at an angle. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of an oblique path of descent on heel and toe clearance, and toe placement on a step.