Page 40 - InnoRenew CoE International Conference 2021, Healthy and Sustainable Renovation with Renewable Materials
P. 40
sessing spinal posture while back supported sitting: A review of techniques
used
Kaja Kastelic 1,2, Nastja Podrekar Loredan 2,3, Nejc Šarabon 2,3
1. Univerza na Primorskem, Andrej Marušič Institute, Muzejski trg 2, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
2. InnoRenew COE, Livade 6, 6310 Izola, Slovenia, kaja.kastelic@innorenew.eu, nastja.podrekar@innorenew.eu
3. Univerza na Primorskem, Fakulteta za vede o zdravju, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia, nejc.sarabon@fvz.upr.si
Background: Prolonged sitting has been identified as a risk factor for spinal health. Ergonomic advice
suggests preserving natural spinal curvatures while sitting and using a backrest. Assessment of spinal
posture while back supported sitting is not possible using traditional posture evaluation techniques (e.g.,
3D optical motion detection system), since the back of the seated person is not visible. This study aimed
to identify techniques used for the assessment of spinal posture while sitting on a chair with a backrest.
Methods: A systematic search of the bibliographic database PubMed/MEDLINE was performed in
September 2019 and was updated in February 2021. The search syntax included terms “sitting” and
“spinal posture”, and related synonyms. The study was included if lumbar posture while back supported
sitting was reported. No criteria regarding study design were applied. Only studies published after 2009
were included.
Results: The search yielded 1,894 hits. After titles and abstracts were screened, 44 studies met the inclusion
criteria. Techniques used to assess lumbar posture while back supported sitting were x-ray or magnetic
resonance imaging (57%), accelerometer (14%), electromagnetic sensor (11%), inertial measurement unit
(7%), strain gauge sensor (7%), optic fiber sensor (2%) and flexible ruler (2%).
Discussion and conclusions: More than half of identified studies used imaging techniques that are limited
to the clinical environment and expose participants to radiation. For the ergonomic assessments, small
sensors placed over the skin of the back might be a more promising technique. However, those techniques
might be prone to bias, due to the contact of the participants back and the geometry of the backrest of
the chair. To further develop the field of sitting ergonomics and to better understand spinal posture while
sitting, there is a need for future development and validation of posture evaluation techniques suitable
for back supported sitting assessments.
Keywords: ergonomics, chair, spinal alignment, comfort, lumbar posture, musculoskeletal health
Acknowledgement
The authors gratefully acknowledge the European Commission for funding the InnoRenew project
(grant agreement #739574) under the Horizon2020 Widespread-2-Teaming program and the Republic
of Slovenia (investment funding from the Republic of Slovenia and the European Regional Development
Fund).
INNORENEW COE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2021
40
used
Kaja Kastelic 1,2, Nastja Podrekar Loredan 2,3, Nejc Šarabon 2,3
1. Univerza na Primorskem, Andrej Marušič Institute, Muzejski trg 2, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
2. InnoRenew COE, Livade 6, 6310 Izola, Slovenia, kaja.kastelic@innorenew.eu, nastja.podrekar@innorenew.eu
3. Univerza na Primorskem, Fakulteta za vede o zdravju, Polje 42, 6310 Izola, Slovenia, nejc.sarabon@fvz.upr.si
Background: Prolonged sitting has been identified as a risk factor for spinal health. Ergonomic advice
suggests preserving natural spinal curvatures while sitting and using a backrest. Assessment of spinal
posture while back supported sitting is not possible using traditional posture evaluation techniques (e.g.,
3D optical motion detection system), since the back of the seated person is not visible. This study aimed
to identify techniques used for the assessment of spinal posture while sitting on a chair with a backrest.
Methods: A systematic search of the bibliographic database PubMed/MEDLINE was performed in
September 2019 and was updated in February 2021. The search syntax included terms “sitting” and
“spinal posture”, and related synonyms. The study was included if lumbar posture while back supported
sitting was reported. No criteria regarding study design were applied. Only studies published after 2009
were included.
Results: The search yielded 1,894 hits. After titles and abstracts were screened, 44 studies met the inclusion
criteria. Techniques used to assess lumbar posture while back supported sitting were x-ray or magnetic
resonance imaging (57%), accelerometer (14%), electromagnetic sensor (11%), inertial measurement unit
(7%), strain gauge sensor (7%), optic fiber sensor (2%) and flexible ruler (2%).
Discussion and conclusions: More than half of identified studies used imaging techniques that are limited
to the clinical environment and expose participants to radiation. For the ergonomic assessments, small
sensors placed over the skin of the back might be a more promising technique. However, those techniques
might be prone to bias, due to the contact of the participants back and the geometry of the backrest of
the chair. To further develop the field of sitting ergonomics and to better understand spinal posture while
sitting, there is a need for future development and validation of posture evaluation techniques suitable
for back supported sitting assessments.
Keywords: ergonomics, chair, spinal alignment, comfort, lumbar posture, musculoskeletal health
Acknowledgement
The authors gratefully acknowledge the European Commission for funding the InnoRenew project
(grant agreement #739574) under the Horizon2020 Widespread-2-Teaming program and the Republic
of Slovenia (investment funding from the Republic of Slovenia and the European Regional Development
Fund).
INNORENEW COE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2021
40
