Effect of sit-stand workstation position and computer task on head and trunk postural sway and discomfort

Chandler Shannon; Ed Havey; Rajal G Cohen; Anita N Vasavada

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104098

Effect of sit-stand workstation position and computer task on head and trunk postural sway and discomfort

Appl Ergon. 2023 Nov:113:104098. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104098. Epub 2023 Jul 23.

Authors

Chandler Shannon¹, Ed Havey², Rajal G Cohen³, Anita N Vasavada⁴

Affiliations

¹ Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, P.O. Box 646515, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-6515, USA. Electronic address: chandler.shannon1995@gmail.com.
² Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, 1250 Bishop Blvd. Suite G, Pullman, WA, 99163, USA. Electronic address: ed.havey@hotmail.com.
³ Department of Psychology & Communication, 875 Perimeter Drive, MS 3043, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83843, USA. Electronic address: rcohen@uidaho.edu.
⁴ Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, P.O. Box 646515, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-6515, USA; Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, P.O. Box 647620, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-7620, USA. Electronic address: vasavada@wsu.edu.

PMID: 37490792
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104098

Abstract

Adjustable-height desks may provide musculoskeletal health benefits to offset the effects of prolonged sitting. One mechanism may be increased postural variability, here characterized by head and trunk postural sway. Linear acceleration of the head and trunk were measured while participants used computer workstations in seated and standing positions during keyboard and mouse tasks; secondary measures were discomfort and proprioception (head and neck repositioning error). Median accelerations of the head and trunk were 20-26% lower in mouse tasks compared to keyboard tasks (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in sway parameters between seated and standing positions. Discomfort and proprioception were correlated; subjects who experienced increased neck discomfort after 1.5 h of computer work had almost twice the head and neck repositioning error. The results suggest that postural sway is more affected by different tasks (keyboard vs. mouse) than by different workstation configurations and that low proprioception acuity may relate to the development of discomfort.

Keywords: Adjustable-height workstations; Motor variability; Proprioception.

MeSH terms

Computers
Humans
Neck
Posture*
Sitting Position*
Standing Position