Title
Evaluation of a sitting aid: The Back-Up
Author
Vink, P.
Douwes, M.
van Woensel, W.
Publication year
1994
Abstract
The effects of a portable back support, the Back-Up, were tested in 28 variables. Both subjective and objective physical load measures were recorded during sitting with and without Back-Up, most of them during VDU work. The main result was that the posture of the upper back and neck/head was improved by the Back-Up. However, the knee straps induced unacceptable high pressure and increased significantly the discomfort in the legs. Based on these results the Back-Up was modified: the contact area between the strap and the knee was enlarged. This modified Back-Up was tested again for 13 variables with 10 new subjects. The knee pressure turned out to be acceptable and the discomfort was equal to sitting without the Back-Up. Based on this research the Back-Up is considered as a possible addition to more fundamental ergonomic improvements such as adjustable furniture and variation between sitting, standing and walking tasks, especially for improvement of the neck load. However, the Back-Up should not replace proper ergonomic workstation and work organization design or a backrest on the chair. Furthermore, the Back-Up should not be made obligatory, and it should be worn only for a part of the day, because it limits variation in postures.
Subject
Workplace
Back load
Back support
Electromyography
Musculoskeletal disorders
Office work
VDU work
Computer terminals
Computer workstations
Evaluation
Human rehabilitation equipment
Musculoskeletal system
Occupational risks
Personnel
Testing
Musculoskeletal disorders
Posture
Sitting aid
Ergonomics
Adult
Back
Body posture
Chair
Controlled study
Functional assessment
Human
Human experiment
Image display
Male
Neck
Normal human
Occupational accident
Office worker
Sitting
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-6870(94)90015-9
TNO identifier
232617
ISSN
0003-6870
Source
Applied Ergonomics, 25 (3), 170-176
Document type
article