Gender-based analysis of muscle activation while in a sedentary work posture

Area of Science:

• Ergonomics
• Occupational Health
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Many occupations require prolonged sitting with extensive upper extremity and hand use.
• Workplace factors like chair height, worktable height, and target distance significantly influence muscle activity during seated tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex-based differences in muscle activity.
• To analyze muscle activity variations across different chair heights and working distances.

Main Methods:

• Utilized surface electromyography (EMG) to measure muscle activity.
• Assessed upper limb and trunk muscles during an arm-stretching task in a seated posture.

Main Results:

• Women demonstrated higher muscle activity compared to men across most analyzed muscles.
• Increased muscle activity in women was observed with changes in chair height and working distance.

Conclusions:

• Gender-specific differences in muscle activity exist in seated work environments.
• Women may experience greater muscle fatigue under similar conditions, necessitating gender-conscious ergonomic designs.