An optimal automotive seat backrest angle has not been identified, and currently, no universal method for analyzing sitting discomfort exists. The purposes of this study were to: (1) identify an optimum seat backrest angle or range of angles based on objective and subjective discomfort measures, and (2) evaluate existing methods for analyzing sitting discomfort data. Eight participants (4 male 4 female) completed three, two hour test sessions in a driving simulator. Results showed that subjective and objective measures were moderately correlated. The 120° seat backrest angle (measured from horizontal) resulted in less discomfort than the 105° and 135° seat backrest angles. Time weighted subjective discomfort ratings were the most effective subjective measure of sitting discomfort. Results also indicated that participants were able to identify discomfort differences for few body regions.

Bakgrund: Diabetes är en allvarlig folkhälsosjukdom som påverkar kroppens egen möjlighet till att reglera blodets glukosvärde. Den största riskgruppen för att utveckla diabetes typ 2 är individer med övervikt. Regelbunden fysisk aktivitet har visat positiv inverkan på såväl glukosvärden. Vilken effekt korta pauser med fysisk aktivitet har på glukosvärde i blodet vid långvarigt stillasittande är inte lika utforskat. Det kan vara värdefullt som fysioterapeut att kunna ge relevanta rekommendationer angående fysisk aktivitet till individer med diabetes typ 2 eller övervikt för att kunna minska komplikationer. Syfte: Systematiskt granska enskilda studier och sammanväga tillförlitligheten för effekten på glukosvärde i blodet av korta pauser med fysisk aktivitet i samband med stillasittande hos individer med diabetes typ 2 och övervikt.  Metod: Litteratursökningen genomfördes i databasen Pubmed och resulterade i åtta studier inkluderades. Studierna kvalitétgranskades enligt PEDro scale och evidens graderingen genomfördes genom GRADEstud. Resultat: Korta pauser av fysisk aktivitet i samband med stillasittande resulterar i en signifikant minskning av glukosvärde hos individer med diabetes typ 2 eller övervikt. Kvalitétsgranskningen enligt PEDro visar att sex studier anses vara av måttlig kvalitét och två studier av hög kvalitét. Den sammanlagda tillförlitligheten enligt GRADEstud av underlaget bedömdes vara låg (++).  Konklusion: Effekten av fysisk aktivitet hos stillasittande individer med diabetes typ 2 eller övervikt visade ett minskat glukosvärde jämfört med dem som var långvarigt stillasittande. Evidensen bedömdes vara låg vilket visade på ett behov av fler högkvalitativa studier inom området för att kunna bekräfta resultatet. / Background: Diabetes is a public health disease that affects the body's own ability to regulate the blood's glucose. Overweight individuals have the highest risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The effect that physical activity has on glucose levels in conjunction with sedentary sitting is not as explored as regular interventions of physical activity. It can be valuable as a physiotherapist to be able to give recommendations to individuals with type 2 diabetes or overweight to reduce complications.  Purpose: Systematically review studies and their reliability on the effect of physical activity on blood glucose in conjunction with sedentary sitting on individuals with type 2 diabetes or overweight. Method: The literature search was conducted on the database Pubmed and resulted in eight studies. The studies quality was reviewed with PEDro scale and the evidence reviewed with GRADEstud. Results: Short breaks of physical activity in conjunction with sedentary sitting resulted in a significant decrease of glucose levels on individuals with diabetes type 2 and overweight. The quality review with PEDro showed that six studies were of moderate quality and two studies of high quality. The overall reliability according to GRADEstud was rated low(++). Conclusion: The effect of short breaks of physical activity in conjunction with sedentary sitting on individuals with diabetes type 2 or overweight shows decreased glucose levels compared with sedentary sitting. The evidence was rated low which shows a need for more high quality studies in the subject to confirm the results .

Low back pain (LBP) is a common occupational problem and continues to be the leading cause of occupational disability.  Among diverse known risk factors, sitting is commonly considered as an important exposure related to LBP.  Both modern living and contemporary work involve increased sedentary lifestyles, including more frequent and prolonged sitting.  At present, however, the causal role of sitting on LBP development is controversial due to the contribution of several moderating factors (e.g., task demands, duration of exposures, and presence of muscle fatigue).  A few studies have assessed low back loads in seated postures, but none has investigated the effects of prolonged sitting or time-dependent variations on spinal structure and spinal loading.  Adverse effects of muscle fatigue on low back pain are well documented, yet the specific relationship between muscle fatigue and sitting-related low back pain are not fully established.  In addition to these fundamental limitations in our understanding of the physical consequences of sitting, there is also little evidence regarding the effects of task requirements on muscle fatigue and spine loading.   Therefore, the main objectives of this work were, in the context of sitting, to: 1) develop and evaluate a method to assess paraspinal muscle fatigue using electrical stimulation; 2) develop and evaluate a method (model) to quantify biomechanical loads on the lumbar spine in a seated posture; and 3) quantify the effects of prolonged seated tasks on low back loads, body discomfort, and localized muscle fatigue (LMF).  The primary hypothesis was that exposure to sitting-related LBP risks is influenced by task requirements and sitting duration.   A muscle stimulation protocol was developed to measure stimulation responses in the lumbar extensors.  A stimulation protocol, which included one conditioning train along with three 16-second stimulation train at 2 Hz, was recommended as appropriate to measure those muscles potentially fatigued during prolonged seated tasks.  A three-dimensional, sitting-specific, fatigue-sensitive, time-dependent, electromyography (EMG)-based biomechanical model of the trunk was developed to investigate the effects of seated tasks and time-dependent variations on lumbosacral loading during sitting. Reasonable levels of correspondence were found between measured and predicted lumbosacral moments under a range of seated tasks.  Lastly, the effects of prolonged sitting and psychosocial work stress on low back were quantitatively identified.  Only prolonged sitting significantly increased trunk flexion angles and led to muscle fatigue.  Relatively weak correlations were found between subjective and objective measures, though the two fatigue measurement methods (based on EMG and stimulated responses) showed a good level of correspondence.   Overall, this work provides a quantitative assessment of biomechanical exposures associated with seated tasks.  The methods developed in this work make a contribution in terms of measurement/modeling approaches that can be used to assess LBP-relevant risks during prolonged sitting.  The results of this work provide a better understanding of the effects of prolonged sitting on the risk of developing sitting-related LBP.  Finally, results regarding the influences of prolonged sitting and psychosocial demands can be used to guide future job design. / Ph. D.

Title: The evaluation of functional sitting stability of paraplegics Objectives: The aim of this work is to evaluate the functional stability of paraplegics sitting through tests. Another objective is to determine what is the effect of fourteen days rehabilitation intervention on the sitting patients. Methods: Designed experiment was processed by the form of quantitative research. There were 10 pacients with spinal cord injuries, especially paraplegics included - 5 men and 5 women. The history was detected with the main emphasis on assessment ASIA score. Measurement of unsupported upright sitting was done thanks to the Plantograf V09. It records the current pressure distribution and movement of the center of pressure (COP). Functional T - shirt test was evaluated by using a stopwatch. Probands responded two questions about their current condition after rehabilitation after the output measuring. The therapist rating was included in the results. All data were further processed in Microsoft Office Excel 2007. Results: Measurements confirmed the reliability of both used tests. The t-shirt test can be used as an objective method of assessing functional stability of sitting. Test of unsupported upright sitting measured by Plantografu is also usable. It would be appropriate to set the measuring apparatus...

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Although sitting is a large part of everyday life is the influence of the sitting positions and chair design on pressure and load distribution as well as comfort for transfemoral amputees quite unexplored. The aim of this study was therefore to examine this further. Two transfemorally amputated females (49 and 57 years old) participated in the study. Three positions were examined for each subject; sitting without foot support and sitting with the knee joints flexed 90◦ and 105◦. The pressure inside the socket was measured by two pressure sensors, placed distally and proximally on the posterior wall inside the socket. The lengthwise pressure distribution and the sidewise load distribution between the socket and the underlying material was measured by a pressure mat. In addition to this, the subjects answered a questionnaire regarding the subjective comfort for each position.  The result showed that the pressure underneath the socket were higher distally than proximally without foot support. The pressure transferred proximally as the knee became more flexed. The most even load distribution sidewise was found when the subjects sat with their knees flexed 105 degrees. Sitting with the knees flexed 90◦ was ranked as the most comfortable position. No conclusion could be made regarding the pressure inside of the socket. Additionally, according to this study the level of comfort does not have any clear relation with the sidewise load distribution or the longitudinal pressure distribution. / En stor del av livet spenderas sittandes, men den påverkan som sittposition och stoldesign har på tryckfördelning och komfort för transfemoralt amputerade är ganska outforskat. Studien ämnar därför undersöka detta. Två transfemoralt amputerade kvinnor (49 och 57 år) medverkade i studien. Tre sittpositioner undersöktes för varje testperson; sittande utan fotstöd samt sittande med knäleden i 90◦ respektive 105◦ flexion. Trycket inuti hylsan mättes med hjälp av två trycksensorer, som placerades distalt och proximalt på den bakre hylsväggen. Tryckfördelningen i längsriktningen och lastfördelningen i sidled mellan hylsan och underlaget mättes med en tryckmatta. Förutom detta svarade testpersonerna även på ett frågeformulär angående den subjektiva komforten för varje position. Resultatet visade att trycket under hylsan var högre distalt än proximalt när inget fotstöd användes. Trycket förflyttades proximalt då knät böjdes. Den mest jämna lastfördelningen mellan sidorna påträffades när knät var flekterat 105◦. Enligt frågeformuläret var den mest bekväma positionen den med 90◦ i knäleden. Ingen slutsats kunde göras angående trycket inuit hylsan. Ingen tydlig relation kunde heller inte hittas mellan den subjektiva komforten och tryck- eller lastfördelningen.

Thesis (MScPhysio (Physiotherapy))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The Western Cape Education Department initiated a project that aims to provide all the learners from the province with computer access and to promote computer use in schools. Prolonged sitting in front of computers and psychosocial factors have been associated with musculoskeletal symptoms internationally. However, the impact of computer use on musculoskeletal pain among South African high school learners is yet to be determined. Objective The objective of the study was to determine whether sitting postural alignment and psychosocial factors contribute to the development of upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain in grade ten high school learners working on desktop computers. Study design An observational analytical study was performed on a sample of 104 asymptomatic high school learners. Methodology Six high schools in the Western Cape metropole were randomly selected 322 grade ten learners who are using desktop computers, were screened for upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain. Measurements at baseline were taken of the 104 asymptomatic learners, 49 girls and 55 boys. The sitting postural alignment was measured by using the Portable Posture Analysis Method (PPAM), which measured head tilt; cervical angle; shoulder pro- and retraction angle and thoracic angle in the sagittal plane. Depression and anxiety were described by using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) respectively. The exposure to computer use was described in terms of duration and frequency of daily and weekly computer use. At three and six months post baseline, the onset and area of upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain was determined by using the Computer Usage Questionnaire. Results After six months, 27 of the 104 learners developed upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain due to seated or computer-related activities. There was no difference in computer exposure between the learners who developed upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain symptoms and the learners who remained asymptomatic. An extreme cervical angle (<34.75° or >43.95°; OR 2.6; 95% CI: 1.0-6.7) and a combination of extreme cervical and thoracic angle (<63.1° or >71.1°; OR 2.19; 95% CI: 1.0-5.6) were significant postural risk factors for the development of upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain. There was a tendency for boys to be at a greater risk for upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain than the girls (OR 1.94; 95% CI: 0.9-4.9). Weight greater than 54.15kg and a depression score greater than 11 was found to be significantly associated with a poor posture (OR 3.1; 95% CI: 1.0-9.7; OR 1.02; 95% CI: 1.0-1.1). Discussion and conclusion The study concluded that poor posture, relating to extreme cervical and thoracic angles, is a risk factor for the development of upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain in high school learners working on desktop computers. South African boys were at a greater risk of developing upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain than the girls. However the study found no causal relationship between depression, anxiety and upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain among South African high school learners and computer usage.

An innovative Partially Immersed Approach, based on mixed principles of land and aquatic therapy theories was developed to enhance sitting adaptation and functioning in an Aquatics Therapy environment, thus improving quality of life for children with Cerebral Palsy. The approach aimed to enhance motor adaptation, engendering adaptation in psychosocial domains of quality of life. It employed a specially developed therapeutic treatment chair, in an unloading toward loading strategy, to regulate and control percentage of weight-bearing by manipulation of buoyancy (Archimedes principle). Participants were bilateral spastic hypertonia, Cerebral Palsy children, aged 10-15 years. Mixed-method methodology was used to investigate effectiveness of treatment, employing a small sample in a multiple case study. In conclusion, the developed approach enables aquatic therapy to be employed to improve motor function adaptation on land and consequently enhancing adaptation in other psychosocial domains - perceived competence, empowerment and motivation - thus improving quality of life for children with cerebral palsy, sustained at a one-year post-intervention test.

If there is one thing that policy makers at the World Health Organisation (WHO) and residents of the South African township of Langa are likely to agree on, it is that ‘just sitting’ is not good for you. The positions from which they approach this conclusion however differ profoundly. This research investigates different conceptualisations of physical activity, health, and wellbeing, and the implications of these differences for policy on the prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in low and middle income countries, taking South Africa as a case study. With four out of five deaths from diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke now occurring in low and middle income countries, prevention, of what have been termed ‘NCDs’, in these countries is rising rapidly up the global public health agenda. Physical activity is one of the four primary risk factors which have been identified as intervention targets, but there is an acknowledged paucity of research which helps us to understand how physical activity, and inactivity, are conceptualised in low and middle income country contexts. As a result the evidence base for design of physical activity policy interventions to address NCDs is also weak. The global discourse recognises the determinants of health as socially embedded, but struggles with what this means for policy on prevention. This study explores the detail of this social embeddedness by way of ethnographic research into wellbeing, health and physical activity carried out in a South African township, and juxtaposes this with conceptualisation of these same themes emerging from a review of academic and policy-oriented literature on the prevention of NCDs in low and middle income countries. The struggles of local research groups to reconcile the demands made on them from these very different worlds are explored, and strategies for addressing the specifics of NCD prevention without abstracting health from the broader context of the person or society are discussed. The research is theoretically informed by work on wellbeing in developing countries.

Title: Informing teachers about the importance of correct seating and ergonomic work space. Problem definition: This dissertation addresses Basic and Special School teachers' and Teachers College students' level of awarness about the meaning of Corrected sitting position and their knowledge of suitable ergonomic, educational school furniture and the conditions for achieving the right Corrected sitting position. Reasoning: Children at schools often have problems with corrected sitting and teachers often don't know the aspects of right body-control. They also very often pay no or very little attention to this problem. Corrected sitting position, which is necessary to be applied in schools, is one of the fundamental pre-requisite of right kinetic advancement and creation of premises for school work. Dissertation objectives: Purpose of this dissertation is to find out what is the teachers' level of awareness about the necessity of using Corrected sitting position at schools and aspects of the right body-control and how much they know about the possibilities of using ergonomic educational furniture. Methodology: This dissertation is a analytical study. I work with the findings from questionnaires filled in both by Basic and Special School teachers and Teachers College students. After processing and...