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Updated: Mar 15, 2026
Movement Retraining using Real-time Feedback of Performance
Published on: January 17, 2013
The variability of the trunk forward bending in standing activities during work vs. leisure time
Morten Villumsen1, Pascal Madeleine2, Marie Birk Jørgensen3
1Physical Activity and Human Performance - SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7, DK-9220, Aalborg, Denmark; The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, DK-2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; Department of Physiotherapy, University College of Northern Denmark, Aalborg, Selma Lagerløfs Vej 2, DK-9220, Aalborg, Denmark.
Abstract:
High level of occupational physical activity (PA), contrary to leisure time activities, is generally associated with detrimental health outcomes. We hypothesized that this contrast may be associated with a different pattern of exposure variability in PA, e.g., forward bending of the trunk. The study was conducted on 657 blue-collar workers. Two accelerometers were used to identify the body posture and forward bending of the trunk during work and leisure time. The pattern of forward bending was analyzed using exposure variation analysis (EVA). The recordings comprised of 2.6 ± 0.97 working days in average, with 19.9 ± 8.1 h work and 22.9 ± 8.9 h leisure. The standard deviation and entropy of the EVA profile indicated 11% and 6% (for about 80% of subjects) less variable pattern during work compared with the leisure time, respectively. These new findings contribute to the understanding the paradoxical outcomes of PA during work and leisure.
