354 Employees in 8 companies
At Siemens, 23 of the 47 employees participating in the study experienced low energy at the end of a normal workday, sitting on a traditional office chair. After 6 months using the Backapp products, this number was reduced to 8.
Participants
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy in Alborg, Denmark builds wind farms. 47 of the employees who has normal office jobs participated in the field trial. There were 35 women and 12 men with an average age of 43. They exchanged their traditional office chair with the Backapp chair and Backapp 360 balance board.
Process
The participants were trained in how to use the Backapp chair and the Backapp 360 balance board. They answered a questionnaire at the start of the field trial, after 6 weeks and 6 months. The questionnaire was developed by an independent third party who received the completed forms and calculated and tabulated the statistical data.
LESS PAIN IN THE LUMBAR AREA
27 of 47 participants experienced pain in the lumbar area using their traditional office chair. After 6 months using the Backapp products, this was reduced to 14! (see Table 1)
LESS PAIN IN THE NECK AND SHOULDER AREA
Before the trial started, 33 of 47 (70%) experienced pain in the neck and shoulder area. After 6 months using the Backapp products, this was reduced to 22! (see table 1)
LESS HEADACHES
17 of the 47 experienced headaches during and after work on a weekly basis. After 6 months using the Backapp products, this was reduced to 7! (see Table 1)
LESS PAIN IN ARMS AND HANDS
10 of 47 participants experienced pain in the arms and hands every week. After 6 months using the backapp products, this was reduced to 4! (see table 1)
THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS WITH A PAIN FREE UPPER BODY INCREASED 3.3 TIMES
Only 3 of the 47 experienced no upper body pain using their traditional office chair After 6 months using the Backapp products, number this increased to 10! (see table 1)
THE AVERAGE REDUCTION OF AREAS WITH WITH PAIN DECREASED FROM 1.93 TO 1.17
Pain areas include the lumbar, shoulder, neck, head, arms and hands. (Tabell 2)
THE EMPLOYEES REMAINED ENERGETIC AFTER A FULL DAY AT THE OFFICE
23 of the 47 employees expressed that they were lacking energy at the end of the day when using their traditional office chair. After 6 months using the Backapp products, this number was reduced to 8! (Tabell 3).
Results
Table 1
Which of the following types of pains have you experienced during a normal work week. Number of participants.
|
|
Before the trial |
After 6 weeks |
After 6 months |
Change |
|
|
Number |
Number |
Number |
% |
|
Shoulder and neck pain/stiffness |
33 |
27 |
22 |
-33,3 |
|
Headaches during or after work |
17 |
12 |
7 |
-58,8 |
|
Lower back pain/stiffness |
27 |
20 |
14 |
-48,1 |
|
Arm and/or hand pain |
10 |
4 |
4 |
-60,0 |
|
None of the above (pain score = 0) |
3 |
6 |
10 |
+3,3 times |
Table 2
Which of the following types of pains have you experienced during a normal work week. Multiple choice. Number of participants.
- Lower back pain/stiffness
- Shoulder and neck pain/stiffness
- Headaches during or after work
- Arm and/or hand pains
- None of the above
|
|
Before the trial |
After 6 weeks |
After 6 months |
|
Pain score = 0 |
3 |
6 |
9 |
|
Pain score = 1 |
17 |
21 |
24 |
|
Pain score = 2 |
13 |
13 |
12 |
|
Pain score = 3 |
9 |
7 |
1 |
|
Pain score = 4 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
|
Pain score = 5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
47 |
47 |
47 |
|
Average pain score |
1,93 |
1,45 |
1,17 |
|
Change, % |
|
-25,1 |
-39,6 |
Table 3
How often do you feel tired at the end of a normal work day? Number of participant.
|
|
Before the trial |
After 6 weeks |
After 6 months |
|
Infrequently |
9 |
13 |
18 |
|
Every now and then |
15 |
22 |
20 |
|
Quite often |
18 |
10 |
6 |
|
Frequently/every day |
5 |
0 |
2 |
|
Total |
47 |
47 |
47 |
|
Quite often, every day |
23 |
10 |
8 |
|
% |
48,9 |
21,3 |
17,0 |
|
Change, % |
|
-56,5 |
-65,2 |
