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Comparisons of Musculoskeletal Complaints and Data Entry Between a Sitting and a Sit-Stand Workstation Paradigm

Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany, husemann{at}uni-mainz.de

Carolin Yvonne Von Mach

Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany

Daniel Borsotto

Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany

Kirsten Isabel Zepf

Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany

Jutta Scharnbacher

Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany

Background: Seated working positions are often regarded as a cause for discomfort in the musculoskeletal system. Performing work in different working positions—that is, alternating between sitting and standing (sit-stand workstation paradigm)—could help reduce physical complaints. Objective: The questions were whether performing office work partly in a standing position leads to reduced complaints and whether standing would change the efficiency of data entry office work. Method: We investigated the effect of a sit-stand workstation paradigmd during experimental data entry office work on physical and psychological complaints and data entry efficiency by conducting a randomized controlled trial with 60 male participants ages 18 to 35 years. Results: In this experiment, musculoskeletal complaints were reduced by a sit-stand workstation paradigm. A trend could be identified indicating a small but nonsignificant loss of efficiency in data entry while standing. Conclusion: A sit-stand workstation paradigm reduces musculoskeletal complaints without considerably affecting data entry efficiency under the presented study conditions (young male participants, short duration, fixed and controlled sit-stand workstation paradigm, simulated experimental working condition). Application: According to the present data, implementing a sit-stand workstation paradigm can be an effective workplace health intervention to reduce musculoskeletal complaints. This experiment encourages further studies on the effectiveness of a sit-stand workstation paradigm. Experimental research and field studies that prove the reduction of complaints when introducing a sit-stand workstation paradigm in the workplace could be the basis for evidence-based recommendations regarding such interventions.

Key Words: posture • cognition • workplace intervention • dual-task performance • attentional processes • workspace • built environmental design • macroergonomics and the environment • human-computer interaction (HCI) • computer systems • seated working positions • musculoskeletal discomfort • sit-stand work station paradigm • sitting and standing • data entry office work • biomechanics • anthropometry • work physiology

Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Vol. 51, No. 3, 310-320 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0018720809338173


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