Institute for Human Health and Science Convergence, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
PLoS One. 2024 Jul 11;19(7):e0306966. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306966. eCollection 2024.
The most common risk factor of computer workers is poor head and neck posture. Therefore, upright seated posture has been recommended repeatedly. However, maintaining an upright seated posture is challenging during computer work and induces various complaints, such as fatigue and discomfort, which can interfere working performance. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain an upright posture without complaints or intentional efforts during long-term computer work. Alignment devices are an appropriate maneuver to support postural control for maintaining head-neck orientation and reduce head weight. This study aimed to demonstrate the effects of workstations combined with alignment device on head-neck alignment, muscle properties, comfort and working memory ability in computer workers. Computer workers (n = 37) participated in a total of three sessions (upright computer (CPT_U), upright support computer (CPT_US), traction computer (CPT_T) workstations). The craniovertebral angle, muscles tone and stiffness, visual analog discomfort scale score, 2-back working memory performance, and electroencephalogram signals were measured. All three workstations had a substantial effect on maintaining head-neck alignment (p< 0.001), but only CPT_US showed significant improvement on psychological comfort (p = 0.04) and working memory performance (p = 0.024), which is consistent with an increase in delta power. CPT_U showed the increased beta 2 activity, discomfort, and false rates compared to CPT_US. CPT_T showed increased alpha and beta 2 activity and decreased delta activity, which are not conductive to working memory performance. In conclusion, CPT_US can effectively induce efficient neural oscillations without causing any discomfort by increasing delta and decreasing beta 2 activity for working memory tasks.
计算机工作者最常见的风险因素是头部和颈部姿势不佳。因此，人们反复推荐保持端正坐姿。然而，在计算机工作期间保持端正坐姿具有挑战性，会导致各种不适，如疲劳和不适，从而干扰工作表现。因此，有必要在长期计算机工作期间保持无投诉或无需刻意努力的端正坐姿。对齐装置是一种适当的操作，可以支持姿势控制，以保持头部和颈部的方向，并减轻头部重量。本研究旨在展示工作站与对齐装置结合使用对计算机工作者的头部和颈部对齐、肌肉特性、舒适度和工作记忆能力的影响。共有 37 名计算机工作者参加了总共三个会话（直立式计算机（CPT_U）、直立支撑式计算机（CPT_US）、牵引式计算机（CPT_T）工作站）。测量了颅颈角、肌肉张力和硬度、视觉模拟不适量表评分、2 回工作记忆表现和脑电图信号。所有三个工作站都对保持头部和颈部对齐有显著影响（p<0.001），但只有 CPT_US 在心理舒适度（p=0.04）和工作记忆表现（p=0.024）方面有显著改善，这与 delta 功率增加一致。与 CPT_US 相比，CPT_U 显示出 beta 2 活动增加、不适和错误率增加。CPT_T 显示出 alpha 和 beta 2 活动增加以及 delta 活动减少，这不利于工作记忆性能。总之，CPT_US 可以通过增加 delta 并减少 beta 2 活动来有效诱导高效的神经振荡，而不会引起任何不适，从而提高工作记忆任务的效率。
