Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Nov 10;71(1):279.
doi: 10.4102/sajp.v71i1.279. eCollection 2015.

The effect of a workstation chair and computer screen height adjustment on neck and upper back musculoskeletal pain and sitting comfort in office workers

Nicole van Vledder  1 , Quinette Louw  2
Affiliations

The effect of a workstation chair and computer screen height adjustment on neck and upper back musculoskeletal pain and sitting comfort in office workers

Nicole van Vledder et al. S Afr J Physiother. .

Abstract

Aims: To assess the effect of a vertical height adjustment of the chair and visual display unit (VDU) on work-related upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain (WRUQMP) and sitting comfort in office workers. The upper quadrant refers to the occiput, cervical and upper thoracic spine, including the clavicles and scapulae.

Methods: A single subject (N = 1) study, in which the subject serves as her own control, was conducted using the ABC design. An ergonomic workstation adjustment of VDU and chair height was compared to the subject's usual workstation settings. Pain and sitting comfort was measured using visual analogue scales (VAS). The subject was assessed over three four-week phases as she performed her typical VDU work. The results were compiled and tabulated.

Results: Both the mean and variance in pain intensity decreased after the workstation intervention. A deterioration in sitting comfort was noted.

Conclusion: The vertical height adjustment of the chair and visual display unit may have contributed to a decrease in work-related upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain in this subject. This safe, economical workstation intervention may be a practical management option for the computer user suffering from work-related upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain. Further research into the measurement of comfort whilst sitting at a computer workstation is recommended.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships which may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Visual Analogue Pain Scale and Visual Analogue Discomfort Scale. VAPS, Visual Analogue Pain Scale; VADS, Visual Analogue Discomfort Scale.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Flowchart of the recruitment process. WRUQMP, work-related upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Subject interview and physical examination. WRUQMP, work-related upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Photographs of the subject’s workstation: (a) Before workstation adjustment; (b) after workstation adjustment.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Visual Analogue Pain Scale measurements with the mean for each phase. VAPS, Visual Analogue Pain Scale.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Visual Analogue Discomfort Scale measurements with the mean for each phase. VADS, Visual Analogue Discomfort Scale.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Aarås A., Horgen G., Bjørset H.H., Ro O. & Thoresen M., 1998, ‘Musculoskeletal, visual and psychosocial stress in VDU operators before and after multidisciplinary ergonomic interventions’, Applied Ergonomics 29(5), 335–354. PMID: 9703348, 10.1016/S0003-6870(97)00079-3 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Adair J.G., 1984, ‘The Hawthorne effect: A reconsideration of the methodological artifact’, Journal of Applied Psychology 69(2), 334–345. 10.1037/0021-9010.69.2.334 - DOI
    1. Andersen J.H., Fallentin N., Thomsen J.F. & Mikkelsen S., 2011, ‘Risk factors for neck and upper extremity disorders among computers users and the effect of interventions: An overview of systematic reviews’, PLoS One 6(5), e19691 PMID: 21589875, 10.1371/journal.pone.0019691 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Boocock M.G., McNair P.J., Larmer P.J., Armstrong B., Collier J., Simmonds M.. et al., 2007, ‘Interventions for the prevention and management of neck/upper extremity musculoskeletal conditions: A systematic review’, Occupational and Environmental Medicine 64(5), 291–303. PMID: 16973739, 10.1136/oem.2005.025593 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Borg-Stein J., Dugan S.A. & Gruber J., 2005, ‘Musculoskeletal aspects of pregnancy’, American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 84(3), 180–192. PMID: 15725792, 10.1097/01.PHM.0000156970.96219.48 - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources