Low back pain is one of the most common causes of job-related disabilities, influencing employee productivity and ultimately significantly impacting the economic well-being of a business. A pilot study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine examined whether access to sit-stand workstations could help reduce or relieve chronic low back pain in office workers. Ergotron, Inc, a Nortek company, supplied 46 of its WorkFit™ sit-stand workstations for the study.
The research concluded that low back pain may be improved by the introduction of sit-stand workstations which enable “postural variation” throughout the workday.
Some key findings include:
- Reduced pain: At the end of the study, participants who used the sit-stand workstations were 78 percent more likely to report a pain-free day than those who worked at their regular workstations.
- Quick intervention: Participants began to experience a difference in approximately 15 days after the sit-stand computer workstation was installed.
- Increased concentration: Participants reported significantly lower back and neck pain, noting the pain was significantly less likely to interfere with their ability to concentrate.
“These results reinforce the importance of movement and activity in creating a healthier workforce and population,” said Carrie Schmitz, senior research manager for Ergotron. “Our mission is to design and supply products that help the human body compute in comfort and increase movement throughout the day.”
The Stanford University study findings were recently published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, click here to read more.
