Active workstations: A literature review on workplace sitting.

The purpose of this paper is to further understand current literature on prolonged sitting, sitting posture and active sitting solutions. This paper is divided into three sections: The first section (Part I) is a comprehensive overview of the literature on how a static prolonged seated posture can affect: spinal health, trunk posture, contact pressure/discomfort development and vascular issues. The second section (Part II) reviews and qualitatively compares the four working postures recognized in ANSI/HFES 100-2007: reclined sitting, upright sitting, declined sitting and standing.

Differential effects of sex on upper body kinematics and kinetics during fatiguing, Asymmetric lifting.

This study quantified sex-specific biomechanical adaptations to fatigue in asymmetric lifting. Twenty-one females and fifteen males performed a prolonged asymmetric lifting protocol while upper body, trunk and pelvis kinematics were collected. Features of movement identified with principal component analysis, and peak joint angular velocities and moments were calculated.

The biomechanical benefits of active sitting.

This cross-sectional study examined the biomechanical effects of two active chairs (AC1: had the feature to pedal and slide forward on the seat pan; AC2: a multiaxial motion seat pan) compared to a traditional office chair and standing workstation. Twenty-four healthy participants worked at each of the workstations for 60-min. The following equipment was used: Motion Capture, Electromyography, Ratings of Perceived Discomfort Questionnaire, and Exit Survey.

Does active sitting provide more physiological changes than traditional sitting and standing workstations?

This cross-sectional study examined the physiological effects of two active chairs (AC1: had the feature to pedal and slide forward; AC2: was a multiaxial chair) compared to a traditional office chair and standing workstation. Twenty-four healthy participants computed at each of the workstations for 60 min. The active protocol was to alternate between a pedalling/side-to-side motion and sliding forward/front-to-back motion to the sound of a metronome operating at 40 bpm.

A biomechanical analysis of active vs static office chair designs.

The objective of this study was to provide a biomechanical comparison of two different types of active chairs (AC1 & AC2) versus a static chair (NAC). Thirty healthy participants were recruited: fifteen healthy females and fifteen healthy males. Participants worked at a computer workstation (1-h per chair).

A parametric investigation on seat/occupant contact forces and their relationship with initially perceived discomfort using a configurable seat.

The present work investigates the contact forces between sitters and seat as well as their correlations with perceived discomfort. Twelve different economy class aeroplane seat configurations were simulated using a multi-adjustable experimental seat by varying seat pan and backrest angles, as well as seat pan compressed surface. Eighteen males and 18 females, selected by their body mass index and stature, tested these configurations for two sitting postures.

Effects of seat parameters and sitters' anthropometric dimensions on seat profile and optimal compressed seat pan surface.

Designing one seat for multi-sitters and multi-activities is challenging especially in a very restrained aircraft economy class cabin. In this paper, the effects of seat parameters and sitters' anthropometric dimensions on seat profile and optimal compressed seat pan surface were studied using a newly built multi-adjustable experimental seat. The 'optimal' seat pan contact surface was obtained by controlling the height of 52 cylinders so that the normal contact force was distributed to all cylinders as evenly as possible.

A pre/post evaluation of fatigue, stress and vigilance amongst commercially licensed truck drivers performing a prolonged driving task.

. The main purpose of this research study was to evaluate changes in fatigue, stress and vigilance amongst commercially licensed truck drivers involved in a prolonged driving task. The secondary purpose was to determine whether a new ergonomic seat could help reduce both physical and cognitive fatigue during a prolonged driving task.

Ergonomic evaluation of a new truck seat design: a field study.

A postural evaluation of commercial licensed truck drivers was conducted to determine the ergonomic benefits of a truck seat prototype in comparison with an industry standard seat. Twenty commercially licensed truck drivers were recruited to perform a 90-min driving task. Postures were assessed using accelerometers and a backrest and seat pan pressure mapping system.

Biomechanical investigation of prolonged driving in an ergonomically designed truck seat prototype.

A postural evaluation during a prolonged driving task was conducted to determine the ergonomic validity of a new freely adjustable truck seat prototype. Twenty participants were recruited to perform two 2-h simulated driving sessions. Postures were assessed using motion capture, accelerometers and pressure pads.

An ergonomic evaluation of city police officers: an analysis of perceived discomfort within patrol duties.

The purpose of this study was to assess the perceived discomfort of patrol officers related to equipment and vehicle design and whether there were discomfort differences between day and night shifts. A total of 16 participants were recruited (10 males, 6 females) from a local police force to participate for one full day shift and one full night shift. A series of questionnaires were administered to acquire information regarding comfort with specific car features and occupational gear, body part discomfort and health and lifestyle.

Quantifying the postural demands of patrol officers: a field study.

Police officers are at high risk for developing musculoskeletal injuries. This study aimed to determine differences in physical demands of patrol officers during day shifts and night shifts. Sixteen participants were recruited (10 males, 6 females) for in-vehicle observation over one full day shift and one full night shift.

DOES RECTUS FEMORIS TRANSFER INCREASE KNEE FLEXION DURING STANCE PHASE IN CEREBRAL PALSY?

Objective: To evaluate whether distal rectus femoris transfer (DRFT) is related to postoperative increase of knee flexion during the stance phase in cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: The inclusion criteria were Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-III, kinematic criteria for stiff-knee gait at baseline, and individuals who underwent orthopaedic surgery and had gait analyses performed before and after intervention. The patients included were divided into the following two groups: NO-DRFT (133 patients), which included patients who underwent orthopaedic surgery without DRFT, and DRFT (83 patients), which included patients who underwent orthopaedic surgery that included DRFT.

Does the GMFCS level influence the improvement in knee range of motion after rectus femoris transfer in cerebral palsy?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) on the outcomes of rectus femoris transfer (RFT) for patients with cerebral palsy and stiff knee gait. We performed a retrospective review of patients seen at our gait laboratory from 1996 to 2013. Inclusion criteria were (i) spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, (ii) GMFCS levels I-III, (iii) reduced peak knee flexion in swing (PKFSw<55°), and (iv) patients who underwent orthopedic surgery with preoperative and postoperative gait analysis.

Most frequent gait patterns in diplegic spastic cerebral palsy.

Objective: To identify gait patterns in a large group of children with diplegic cerebral palsy and to characterize each group according to age, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, Gait Deviation Index (GDI) and previous surgical procedures.

Methods: ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIVE PATIENTS WERE DIVIDED IN SEVEN GROUPS REGARDING OBSERVED GAIT PATTERNS: jump knee, crouch knee, recurvatum knee, stiff knee, asymmetric, mixed and non-classified.

Results: The asymmetric group was the most prevalent (48.

Prevalence and record of alcoholism among emergency department patients.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of alcoholism among inpatients, to identify social and demographic factors associated with this prevalence and to determine its rate of recognition by the medical team.

Methods: The study population consisted of all patients admitted to the emergency room at Hospital São Lucas, Porto Alegre, Brazil, between July and September of 2005. The data were collected in two steps: an interview with the patient and a review of the medical records to investigate the cases of alcoholism recorded by the medical team.