Cortical activity, kinematics and trunk muscles activity response to pelvis movements during unstable sitting

Balance control is a leading component of human motor activities and its impairment is associated with an increased risk of falling, lower back pain due to impaired motor control mechanism. Prolonged sitting position at workplace is one of the risk factors of reduced postural control and lower back pain.

To evaluate theta and alpha waves cortical activity, trunk muscles activity and kinematics in static sitting, dynamic sitting on different platforms: simple wobble board (WB) and wobble board on bearing surface (WBB).

The kinematics of body segments, electromyography of five trunk muscles, electroencephalography of 32 scalp electrodes were measured during balance tasks in sitting position for 17 subjects with continuous seated position at workplace.

Cortical power on WBB1 increase in fronto - central (p< 0.05) region while on WBB2 increase in centro - parietal region (p< 0.05). WBB2 increase more muscles compared with WB2. The amplitude of movement of ASIS, Th10 can be seen lower on WBB compared with WB (p< 0.05).

The study shows that WBB can increase personalized sitting and improve trunk motor control during hours of prolonged sitting.