Journal article
Does prolonged sitting with limited legroom affect the flexibility of a healthy subject and their perception of discomfort?
International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Vol.41(5), pp.471-480
2011
Abstract
This study examined for differences in subjective ratings of discomfort and comfort (Numerical Rating Scale) and objective measures of hamstring (Sit-Reach test), lumbar (Schöber's test) and neck (Cervical Range of Motion) flexibility in healthy young subjects (n = 24) following 4 h of sitting on stacking chairs with or without limited legroom.When comparing the limited and unlimited legroom groups for differences in subjective and objective measures over 4 h, no significant findings were seen at the 5% level of confidence. However, differences in buttock, neck, shoulder and average discomfort were significantly negatively correlated to differences between post-warm up Sit-Reach scores (Correlation Co-efficients: -763, -434, -408, and -445; p values of .004, .034, .048, and .029, respectively). The difference in buttock discomfort was significantly negatively correlated to the difference between pre-warm up Sit-Reach scores (Correlation Coefficient: -750; p = 0.005), post-sitting/pre-warm up and pre-sitting/post-warm up Sit-Reach scores (Correlation Coefficient: -756; p = 0.004), and Schöber's tests (Correlation Coefficient: -578; p = 0.049).Although the above results suggest a relationship between a loss in flexibility and an increase in discomfort, the mechanism influencing this relationship is not clear from this study. What does appear clear is that the limiting of legroom to the parameters used in this study does not seem to exacerbate change in flexibility and discomfort which are a consequence of prolonged sitting. Relevance to industry: Many forms of public transport provide limited legroom for their passengers, which may have an adverse affect on the user's flexibility or experience of discomfort. Determining which objectively measurable parameters are associated with the subjective level of discomfort during sitting should allow for a greater appreciation of the changes that underpin such subjective perceptions.
Details
- Title
- Does prolonged sitting with limited legroom affect the flexibility of a healthy subject and their perception of discomfort?
- Authors/Creators
- V. Cascioli (Author/Creator)A.I. Heusch (Author/Creator)P.W. McCarthy (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Vol.41(5), pp.471-480
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Identifiers
- 991005543875207891
- Copyright
- © 2011 Elsevier BV
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Chiropractic and Sports Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites
Metrics
46 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.129 Back pain
- 1.129.98 Low Back Pain
- Web Of Science research areas
- Engineering, Industrial
- Ergonomics
- ESI research areas
- Engineering