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Posture, performance and discomfort in pregnancy
1Human Performance Laboratory, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, Rowland Hill Street, London NW1, UK.
Applied Ergonomics
|April 1, 1992
Summary
Pregnancy significantly alters posture and comfort, especially in the third trimester, with increased trunk inclination and discomfort in the low back and legs. Typing performance remained unaffected by advancing pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Ergonomics
- Occupational Health
- Pregnancy Studies
Background:
- Pregnancy involves significant physiological changes impacting a woman's body.
- Understanding how these changes affect daily tasks like typing is crucial for workplace accommodations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of advancing pregnancy on posture, discomfort, and typing performance.
- To identify specific body regions most affected by pregnancy-related discomfort.
Main Methods:
- Twelve pregnant subjects performed a typing task during their second and third trimesters.
- Posture was quantified using goniometry.
- Discomfort was assessed using body-mapping techniques.
Main Results:
- A marked increase in trunk inclination angles was observed between trimesters.
- Subjects reported a general increase in discomfort, particularly in the low back and lower legs, during the third trimester.
- Typing performance showed no significant changes throughout pregnancy.
Conclusions:
- Advancing pregnancy leads to significant postural changes and increased discomfort, particularly affecting the lower back and legs.
- Despite postural and comfort alterations, typing performance is maintained during pregnancy.