The influence of a seated break on prolonged standing induced low back pain development

Abstract

With the recent attention to ‘sitting disease’, health practitioners and scientists are promoting standing in the workplace to decrease sedentary time, despite a high prevalence of low back pain (LBP) development during prolonged standing. The purpose of this study was to assess how a seated break inserted between bouts of prolonged standing would influence LBP development, posture and movement. A total of 20 participants stood for 45 minutes, sat for 15 minutes and repeated this sequence while lumbar and thoracic angles were measured, and LBP visual analogue scale reports were taken. Of the sample, 55% participants reported LBP in standing. A stand to sit ratio of 3:1 did not provide lasting recovery of LBP from standing and pain developers utilised a limited range of their lumbar spine angle and increased thoracic extension, resulting in static postures that caused tissue aggravation that was not resolved after 15 minutes of sitting. Prolonged standing in the workplace has the potential to result in LBP for some workers and alternate ways to reduce sedentary time should be investigated.

Abstract

Practitioner Summary: Recommending standing to replace sitting should be undertaken with caution. A ratio of 3:1 (stand to sit) did not mitigate standing induced LBP. Practitioners should consider the interplay between standing and seated work and provide a variety of activities to reduce sedentary time tailored to work, preference and tolerance for an activity.

Keywords::

• office ergonomics
• occupational standing
• sit–stand desks
• work–rest ratios
• working posture