The Effect of Anti-Fatigue Mats on Subjective Feeling of Employees Working in Standing Posture

Daniela Dana Bizika, Angelina Konovalova, Jeļena Reste (Scientific Reviewer)

Research output: Contribution to conferenceAbstractpeer-review

Abstract

Objectives. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of anti-fatigue mats on subjective feeling of employees working in standing posture. Nowadays many people spend most of their workday standing causes a lot of health problems. Anti-fatigue mats work by encouraging subtle movement of leg and calf muscles, helping muscles to relax and contract, stimulating venous blood pumping to the heart, thus minimizing negative symptoms. Materials and Methods. Employees (n=66) used anti-fatigue mats at work and completed the survey, showing localization of pain on human’s body schematic picture and describing their subjective feeling in 5-point scale before and after using the mat. Information was fixed in anonymous questionnaires and statistically analysed. Results. 84% (n=54) of respondents spend most of the workday standing. The mean age of respondents was 32.0±11.9 years, height – 165.0±9.4 cm and weight – 65.0±15.2 kg. The mean duration of use of mats was 1 year. They mostly complained about low-back (39%, n=25), knee (22%, n=14) and neck muscle pain (18%, n=12). 90% of respondents (n=59) believe that their complaints are associated with work, 49% (n=32) say that pain becomes prominent at the end of a workday. Pain and discomfort in legs after the usage of mat improved on average by 0.71 points comparing with condition before the use (p=0.002), low back pain and discomfort reduced by 0.47 points (p=0.001), knee pain and discomfort – by 0.6 (p=0.016), leg freezing– by 0.8 (p=0.004), and leg tiredness – by 0.62 (p<0.001). Conclusions. Anti-fatigue mats have improved workers quality of life, mostly affecting people with lower back pain. People mark that level of pain in legs and lower back has minimized after using the carpet for 1-3 months, which means that avoidance of constant muscle tension provides relief.
Original languageEnglish
Pages184-184
Publication statusPublished - 2020
Event6th RSU International Student Conference 2020: Health and Social Sciences - Rīga Stradiņš University, Rīga, Latvia
Duration: 27 Mar 202028 Mar 2020
Conference number: 6
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T4P2qTeS9Q-FpWavIifEb_v6Hu9RI8rH/view
https://isc.rsu.lv/about/past-conferences/

Conference

Conference6th RSU International Student Conference 2020
Abbreviated titleISC 2020
Country/TerritoryLatvia
CityRīga
Period27/03/2028/03/20
Internet address

Keywords*

  • Anti-fatigue mats
  • standing work
  • muscle pain and fatigue.

Field of Science*

  • 3.3 Health sciences
  • 3.5 Other medical sciences

Publication Type*

  • 3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)

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