ORIGINAL PAPER
Quantification of lower extremity physical exposures
in various combinations of sit/stand time duration
associated with sit-stand workstation
1 1 | Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
(Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Design) |
2 | Mississippi State University, Mississippi, USA
(Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering) |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Huining Pei
Northwestern Polytechnical University, Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Design, West Youyi Road 127, 710072 Xi’an, China
Northwestern Polytechnical University, Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Design, West Youyi Road 127, 710072 Xi’an, China
Online publication date: 2017-04-26
Med Pr 2017;68(3):315–327
KEYWORDS
electromyographyergonomic interventionperceived level of discomfortroot mean squarebody mass indexgender differences
TOPICS
physiological response to workload and working conditionsfatigue assessmentphysiological assessment of the adjustment/maladjustment of workstations to the mental and physical capacity of the employees health promotion
ABSTRACT
Background: Sit-stand workstations are available for office work purposes but there is a dearth of quantitative evidence to state
benefits for lower limb outcomes while using them. And there are no guidelines on what constitutes appropriate sit/stand time
duration. The primary aim of this study has been to compare muscle activity and perceived discomfort in the lower extremity during
various combinations of sit/stand time duration associated with a sit-stand workstation separately and to evaluate the effects of
the sit-stand workstation on the lower extremity during the text entry task. Material and Methods: During the 5 days, all participants
completed a 2-h text entry task each day for various sit/stand time duration combinations as follows: 5/25 min, 10/20 min,
15/15 min, 20/10 min, 25/5 min. Lower extremity muscular exposure of 12 male and 13 female participants was collected at 8 sites
by surface electromyography and body discomfort was calculated by a questionnaire under those 5 conditions. Results: Results
have demonstrated that lower extremity muscle activity has been significantly varied among the 5 sit/stand time duration groups.
Perceived level of discomfort (PLD) has not differed significantly for 9 out of 10 body parts. Conclusions: The muscle activity of
the thigh region was influenced by sit/stand time duration significantly. Ergonomic exposures of lower extremity when using
a sit-stand workstation were increased, particularly during the long time standing posture. Results indicate that body mass index
(BMI) and gender were not significant factors in this study. Combination of sit/stand time duration 25/5 min appears to show
positive effects on relief of muscle exposure of back of thigh in the shifts of sitting and standing work position. Med Pr 2017;68(3):315–327