Background
Prolonged sitting at sub-optimal workstations is associated
with musculoskeletal dysfunction [1-5]. The
musculoskeletal dysfunction presents as pain or muscle
tension of the cervical, shoulder, and lumbar regions. A
range of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors are
associated with the musculoskeletal symptoms. Nonmodifiable
risk factors are genetic predisposition, structural
spinal deformities or disorders and female gender.
The modifiable factors include body alignment
(posture), nature and duration of the tasks and job demands
as well as physical features of the work [5,6]. Commitment
from supervisors and employees is essential
to modify these risk factors; so is capital investment
to improve the ergonomic design of workstations in an
attempt to reduce the occurrence of musculoskeletal
symptoms.