Cardiac autonomic responses to different tasks in office workers with access to a sit-stand table - a study in real work setting

Author(s)

Brusaca, Luiz Augusto ^[1] ; Barbieri, Dechristian Franca ^[1] ; Beltrame, Thomas ^{[2, 3, 4]} ; Milan-Mattos, Juliana Cristina ^[2] ; Catai, Aparecida Maria ^[2] ; Oliveira, Ana Beatriz ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Phys Therapy, Clin & Occupat Kinesiol Lab, Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Phys Therapy, Cardiovasc Phys Therapy Lab, Sao Carlos - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Comp, UNICAMP, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Ibirapuera UNIB, Dept Phys Therapy, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ERGONOMICS; v. 64, n. 3, p. 354-365, MAR 4 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterise the cardiac autonomic modulation of different office tasks performed by office workers with access to a sit-stand table. Heart rate variability (HRV) of 24 office workers was measured for two hours during three days in the last week of sit-stand table use. HRV indexes and the percentage of heart rate reserve (%HRR) were calculated during computer and non-computer work tasks while sitting or standing, non-computer tasks away from the work desk, and informal work breaks. All cardiac autonomic responses demonstrated a statistically significant interaction effect between the tasks (allp < 0.05) except for the logarithmically-transformed high frequency power (ln HF ms(2);p = 0.14). Tasks performed while standing and away from the desk had higher sympathetic modulation; in addition, the observed higher %HRR demonstrated that these tasks were more physically demanding in comparison to other tasks. Practitioner Summary:Prior reports indicated benefits based on alternated body postures using sit-stand table. Nevertheless, the cardiac autonomic responses of different tasks performed by office workers are unknown. This cross-sectional study showed that different tasks stimulate the cardiac autonomic nervous system in different ways, which could bring positive effects to the cardiovascular system. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/24502-2 - Does posture variation during computer use improve physical exposure of workers?: effects of using adjustable tables - sit/stand
• Grantee: Dechristian França Barbieri
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/06359-4 - Can sit-stand table usage affect the level of physical activity and body composition in office workers with overweight and obesity?
• Grantee: Dechristian França Barbieri
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 18/19016-8 - Associations between aerobic power and fitness
• Grantee: Thomas Beltrame
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 17/09639-5 - Exploring machine learning techniques for aerobic system analysis with applicability for cardiorespiratory rehabilitation programs
• Grantee: Thomas Beltrame
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 19/25140-6 - Chronic and acute effect of using the sit-stand desk as a strategy to reduce sedentary behaviour in administrative workers
• Grantee: Luiz Augusto Brusaca de Azevedo Laureano da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)