Palliative Interventions for Sedentary Low Back Pain: The Physiotherapy Ball,the Kneeling Chair and Conventional Ergonomics Compared

Abstract

Fifty four female secretarial/clerical workers volunteered to participate in a seating trial. All complained of chronic low back pain associated with sedentary work. An independent randomised groups design was used to compare three seating interventions aimed at reducing low back pain. Remedial ergonomics was carried out at all workstations. In the control condition, the existing chairs were adjusted to fit the users and footrests were supplied. In two experimental conditions, subjects used either a kneeling chair or a physiotherapy ball as a seat. Overall, reductions in self- rated low back pain were observed in the experimental but not the control group. The interpretation of the findings is, however, complicated by severe methodological challenges facing trials of this kind, not least of which is the differential subject response in the experimental groups. These challenges are summarised and some suggestions for overcoming the difficulties are made.

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