Increasing physical activity in the vehicle with an interactive seating system in a male sample

Area of Science:

• Automotive Ergonomics
• Occupational Health
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Prolonged static sitting in vehicles poses significant health risks, including metabolic and cardiovascular issues, and musculoskeletal pain.
• Current automotive seating systems, including advanced massage systems (MS), offer limited solutions for mitigating these risks.
• Novel interactive seating systems (IASS) aim to address these challenges through dynamic engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the health risk reduction potential of an interactive seating system (IASS) against a state-of-the-art massage seating system (MS).
• To evaluate the effects of IASS and MS on heart rate, muscle activation, and seating comfort/discomfort in a passenger scenario.
• To determine which system offers superior benefits for mitigating health risks associated with prolonged static sitting in vehicles.

Main Methods:

• A laboratory study involving 30 male subjects compared an interactive seating system (IASS) with a massage seating system (MS).
• Measurements included heart rate (ECG) and muscle activity (EMG) from six captured muscles.
• Subjective assessments of seating comfort and discomfort were also recorded.

Main Results:

• The interactive seating system (IASS) significantly elevated heart rate, unlike the massage seating system (MS).
• While the MS showed a tendency for lower back muscle activation, the IASS activated all six measured muscles.
• Subjects reported significantly less discomfort with the IASS compared to the MS.

Conclusions:

• The interactive seating system (IASS) demonstrates a substantially higher potential for reducing health risks associated with static sitting in vehicles compared to the massage seating system (MS).
• IASS's ability to increase heart rate, activate a broader range of muscles, and improve comfort makes it a more effective solution for sedentary risks in automotive environments.