The objective of the study was to evaluate the differences between sitting on a stability ball and in an office chair in terms of trunk muscle activation and lumbar spine posture.Stability balls have become increasingly popular as an alternative to office chairs to help reduce the prevalence of low back pain; however, little research has been conducted on their use as office chairs.The 14 participants (7 men, 7 women) were required to sit on both a stability ball and an office chair for 1 hour each while performing various computer workstation tasks throughout the sitting periods. The activation of eight muscles and lumbar spine posture were measured and analyzed.Increased muscle activation in thoracic erector spinae (p = .0352), decreased pelvic tilt (p = .0114), and increased perceived discomfort (p < .0001) while sitting on the stability ball were observed.The small changes in biological responses when sitting on a stability ball as compared with an office chair, combined with the increased reported discomfort while on the ball, suggests its use for prolonged sitting may not be advantageous.
Prolonged sitting on a stability ball does not greatly alter the manner in which an individual sits, yet it appears to increase the level of discomfort. Therefore, it is important to fully explore a new chair design and consult scientific research before implementing its use. Footwear and Back Pain Getting a Good Night’s Sleep Golf Tips to Avoid Back Pain Avoiding Back Pain on Vacation Keeping a Healthy Posture Pain Prevention for Athletes Yard Work and Back Pain Housework and Back or Neck Pain Swimming and Back or Neck Pain Back Injury Prevention Tips Staying Active in the Winter Staying Active While at Home Staying Fit while Avoiding Injury Depression Caused by Back Pain Office Chairs and Ergonomics Jobs That Might Cause or Aggravate Back Pain Recreational Sports That Might Aggravate Back Pain Running and Lower Back Pain The Effects of Smoking on Spinal Anatomy How to Quit Smoking Medications to Quit Smoking
Back Pain and Computer Use Back Pain during Travel Ways to Relieve Stress For many employees who work long hours sitting in front of a computer, their office chair has caused endless frustration in the form of aches and pains. Neck and back discomfort, however, do not have to be normal parts of your professional life. Ergonomics is the study of how well workers are able to adapt to their professional environment while staying healthy and productive. Therefore, an ergonomically designed office chair would be one that takes into consideration common neck and back ailments, whether these ailments are a result of muscle strain, ligament sprain or degenerative spine conditions. Choosing the right office chair Below are some things to consider when choosing an ergonomically designed office chair: Lumbar support – The contours of the chair should fully support your lower back. Thoracic (middle back) and cervical (neck) support – The back of the chair should be wide enough to provide ample support to your upper back, shoulders and neck, so that the lower back is not forced to support as much weight.
Circulation – The seat of the chair should be properly sloped so that blood can freely circulate through your legs, upper body and brain. Material – A woven mesh material generally adapts to your natural spinal curvature more easily than a chair made of padding or foam. Balance – A chair should be able to pivot and move with your body easily, so no matter what position you sit in you have proper posture support. Pelvic support – The natural tilt of your pelvis needs to be stabilized, both when you recline and when you sit forward. Any pelvic imbalance transfers that stress directly to your lumbar spine. Other ways to mitigate back pain while at work If you have been diagnosed with a degenerative spine and have developed a ruptured disc, bone spurs, a disc protrusion, spondylolisthesis or any other deteriorative spine disease, there are a variety of ways that ergonomic office equipment, in conjunction with other precautions and lifestyle changes, can help reduce your symptoms of pain, numbness, tingling or weakness.
Take frequent breaks, stretch often and always practice proper posture.Med Eng Phys. 2000 Nov;22(9):665-9.Lengsfeld M1, Frank A, van Deursen DL, Griss P.Author information1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Philipps-University of Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, D-35033 Marburg, Germany. lengsfel@post.med.uni-marburg.deAbstractProlonged sitting is generally accepted as a high risk factor in low back pain and it is frequently suggested that a lordotic posture of the lumbar spine should be maintained during sitting. We asked whether the sagittal curvature of the lumbar spine during sitting is affected by the seat tilt, backrest and the direction of the synchronised mechanism of the back and seat tilt (synchro tilt). Two office chairs were tested by multibody analysis interfacing a human model with a chair model. Results indicate that a synchronised mechanism of an office chair representing a posterior tilt of the seat while the backrest is reclined maintains an evenly distributed lumbar lordosis.