Effects of Active Sitting Chairs on Short-Duration Computer Task Performance, Postural Risks, Perceived Pain, Comfort and Fatigue

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 435-439
Author(s):  
Gourab Kar ◽  
Kathryn S. Peditto ◽  
Sanjay Guria ◽  
Jacqueline R. Callan ◽  
Andrea E. Fronsman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
Short Duration ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Task Condition ◽  
Perceived Pain ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Computer Tasks

This study evaluated the effects of active and static sitting chairs on short-duration computer task performance, postural risks and perceived pain, comfort and fatigue. A repeated-measures, within-subjects study was conducted, in which 16 participants performed 40 trials of a computer-based homing task in four seating conditions. Computer task performance was operationalized using mousing and typing speed as the measures, postural risk was evaluated using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). Perceived scores for pain, comfort and fatigue were reported through a survey administered at baseline and after each seated task condition. Results suggest that for short-duration computer tasks, active seating does not reduce mousing and typing speed; postural risks for musculoskeletal disorders do not significantly differ in comparison to static seating. Additionally, while there is reduction in perceived levels of comfort for active seating, the perception of pain and fatigue do not change significantly.

Effects of Active Versus Static Standing on Short-Duration Computer Task Performance, Postural Risks, Perceived Pain, Comfort and Fatigue

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 440-444
Author(s):  
Gourab Kar ◽  
Sanjay Guria ◽  
Kathryn S. Peditto ◽  
Jacqueline R. Callan ◽  
Andrea E. Fronsman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Short Duration ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Entire Body ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Perceived Pain ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Rapid Entire Body Assessment ◽  
Computer Tasks

This study evaluated the effects of active versus static standing on short-duration computer task performance, postural risks and perceived pain, comfort and fatigue. A repeated measures, within-subjects study was conducted in which 16 participants performed 40 trials of a computer-based homing task in two active standing versus a static standing condition. Computer task performance was operationalized using mousing and typing speed as the measures; postural risk was evaluated using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). Perceived scores for pain, comfort and fatigue were reported through a survey administered at baseline and after each standing task condition. Results suggest that for short-duration computer tasks, there was no significant difference in typing speed between active and static standing. However, mousing speed was significantly higher in static standing compared to a specific active standing condition. Overall levels of perceived pain, comfort and fatigue did not differ significantly between active and static standing.

scholarly journals Performance, Movement, Posture, and Perceived Discomfort in Active vs. Static Seating

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 1154-1158
Author(s):  
Jeremy D. Faulk ◽  
Cameron C. McKee ◽  
Heather Bazille ◽  
Michael Brigham ◽  
Jasmine Daniel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Fine Motor ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Trunk Movement ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Static Conditions

Active seating designs may enable users to move more frequently, thereby decreasing physiological risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle. In this preliminary study, two active seating designs (QOR360, Ariel; QOR360, Newton) were compared to a static chair (Herman Miller, Aeron) to understand how active vs. static seating may affect task performance, movement, posture, and perceived discomfort. This within-subjects experiment involved n = 11 student participants who sat upon each of the three chairs for 20 minutes while performing a series of computer-based tasks. Participants showed increased trunk movement while also reporting higher levels of perceived discomfort in the two active chair conditions. There was no significant difference in either posture or fine motor task performance between the active and static conditions. Future research may benefit from additional physiological measurements along with a wider variety of tasks that require seated users to make postural adjustments.

Effects of a dynamic foot movement device on cognitive performance in short-duration computer-based tasks

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 369-372
Author(s):  
Gourab Kar ◽  
Yilu Sun ◽  
Elif Celikors ◽  
Paulina Villacreces ◽  
Elena Misailedes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Short Duration ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Subjective Evaluations ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Control Survey ◽  
And Control

This pilot study compared cognitive performance in short-duration computer-based tasks between static sitting as control, and active sitting with use of a dynamic foot movement device as intervention. Using a within-subjects counterbalanced design; participants performed four computer-based tasks evaluating cognitive performance. A survey reported subjective evaluations of concentration, productivity, comfort, satisfaction, and preference for future use. Results from Digit span, Fitts’ Spiral, Stroop and Typing tests indicate no significant difference in cognitive performance between intervention and control. Survey results suggest that 40% of participants expressed satisfaction and preference for future use of the intervention. In conclusion, findings from this study suggest that compared to static sitting, cognitive performance on short-duration computer tasks is not reduced with use of a dynamic foot movement device. The adoption of dynamic foot movement devices can potentially increase low-intensity concurrent physical activity without negatively impacting cognitive performance in short-duration computer-based office tasks.

scholarly journals Upper limb vascular mapping with Doppler ultrasound: Technique precision evaluated in healthy volunteers

Ultrasound ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-232
Author(s):  
Ana S Germano ◽  
António P Gomes ◽  
Rita Martins ◽  
Marta Sousa ◽  
Vitor Nunes
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Volunteers ◽  
Doppler Ultrasound ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Vascular Access ◽  
Brachial Artery ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Ultrasound Technique ◽  
Vascular Mapping ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Artery Flow

Introduction Doppler ultrasound is recommended by international societies for preoperative vascular mapping in vascular access surgery. Literature is scarce regarding data on Doppler ultrasound-associated errors. Objectives Our aim was to evaluate Doppler ultrasound precision for upper limb vascular mapping. Methods Fifty-two adult healthy volunteers were evaluated for superficial vein diameter, brachial artery flow and diameter in the lower third of non-dominant arm by a dedicated vascular access radiologist blinded for the identification of the participants. Each participant was scheduled for three evaluations one week apart. Friedman test and multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measures were used. Results There were no statistical differences within subjects across the three weeks except for brachial artery flow in participants who had basilic vein as the dominant vein. Discussion Repeated anatomical and haemodynamic parameters measured by Doppler ultrasound performed by an experienced medical sonographer, according to our protocol, did not show statistical differences within subjects, independently of age, gender and body mass index.

scholarly journals Comparing the Effects of Different Body Armour Systems on the Occupational Performance of Police Officers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Schram ◽  
Robin Orr ◽  
Rodney Pope ◽  
Ben Hinton ◽  
Geoff Norris
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Occupational Performance ◽  
Repeated Measures Design ◽  
Body Armour ◽  
Occupational Tasks ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Step Down ◽  
Occupational Task

Policing duties may inherently be dangerous due to stab, blunt trauma and ballistic threats. The addition of individual light armour vests (ILAVs) has been suggested as a means to protect officers. However, the addition of the extra load of the ILAV may affect officer ability to conduct occupational tasks. The purpose of this study was to determine if wearing any of 3 different ILAVs (ILAV A, ILAV B, & ILAV C) affected occupational task performance when compared to that in normal station wear. A prospective, within-subjects repeated measures design was employed, using a counterbalanced randomization in which each ILAV was worn for an entire day while officers completed a variety of occupationally relevant tasks. These tasks included a victim drag, car exit and 5 meter sprint, step down and marksmanship task. Results showed that performance in each task did not vary between any of the ILAV or normal station wear conditions. There was less variability in the marksmanship task with ILAV B, however. The results suggest that none of the ILAVs used in this study were heavy enough to significantly affect task performance in the assessed tasks when compared to wearing normal station wear.

Effects of Concurrent Manual Task Performance on Connected Speech Acoustics in Individuals With Parkinson Disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 2099-2117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason A. Whitfield ◽  
Zoe Kriegel ◽  
Adam M. Fullenkamp ◽  
Daryush D. Mehta
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Task Condition ◽  
Connected Speech ◽  
Speech Acoustics ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Manual Task ◽  
Task Conditions

Purpose Prior investigations suggest that simultaneous performance of more than 1 motor-oriented task may exacerbate speech motor deficits in individuals with Parkinson disease (PD). The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the extent to which performing a low-demand manual task affected the connected speech in individuals with and without PD. Method Individuals with PD and neurologically healthy controls performed speech tasks (reading and extemporaneous speech tasks) and an oscillatory manual task (a counterclockwise circle-drawing task) in isolation (single-task condition) and concurrently (dual-task condition). Results Relative to speech task performance, no changes in speech acoustics were observed for either group when the low-demand motor task was performed with the concurrent reading tasks. Speakers with PD exhibited a significant decrease in pause duration between the single-task (speech only) and dual-task conditions for the extemporaneous speech task, whereas control participants did not exhibit changes in any speech production variable between the single- and dual-task conditions. Conclusions Overall, there were little to no changes in speech production when a low-demand oscillatory motor task was performed with concurrent reading. For the extemporaneous task, however, individuals with PD exhibited significant changes when the speech and manual tasks were performed concurrently, a pattern that was not observed for control speakers. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.8637008

Current Task Activation Predicts General Effects of Advance Preparation in Task Switching

2006 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 260-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edita Poljac ◽  
Ab de Haan ◽  
Gerard P. van Galen
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Shape Matching ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Matching Task ◽  
Task Switch ◽  
Current Task ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
And Task

Two experiments investigated the way that beforehand preparation influences general task execution in reaction-time matching tasks. Response times (RTs) and error rates were measured for switching and nonswitching conditions in a color- and shape-matching task. The task blocks could repeat (task repetition) or alternate (task switch), and the preparation interval (PI) was manipulated within-subjects (Experiment 1) and between-subjects (Experiment 2). The study illustrated a comparable general task performance after a long PI for both experiments, within and between PI manipulations. After a short PI, however, the general task performance increased significantly for the between-subjects manipulation of the PI. Furthermore, both experiments demonstrated an analogous preparation effect for both task switching and task repetitions. Next, a consistent switch cost throughout the whole run of trials and a within-run slowing effect were observed in both experiments. Altogether, the present study implies that the effects of the advance preparation go beyond the first trials and confirms different points of the activation approach ( Altmann, 2002) to task switching.

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