354 Employees at 8 companies
At 1337 AB, 9 of the 27 employees had pains in the arms and hands while sitting in their traditional office chair. After 6 months using the Backapp products only 1 employee reported to still had pain.
Participants
Tretton37 AB is a Swedish firm working in developments of data solutions. The 27 employees who participated in the field trial were relatively young with an average age of 35, 21 men and 6 women, as opposed to the field trials at Siemens and Ving where there were more women than men participating. The 27 participants at Tretton37 exchanged their traditional office chair with a Backapp chair and a Backapp 360 balance board when working.
Process
The participants were trained in the use of the Backapp chair and the backapp 360 balance board. The participants completed the questionnaires at the beginning of the field trial, after 6 weeks and after 6 months. The questionnaire was developed by an independent third party who received the completed forms and calculated and tabulated the statistical results.
LESS PAIN IN THE LUMBAR AREA
14 of the 27 participants reported pain in the lumbar area using the traditional office chair. After 6 months using the Backapp products this was reduced to 11 (see Table 1)
LESS PAIN IN THE NECK AND SHOULDER AREA
Before the trial, 19 of the 27 participants (70%) had neck and shoulder pains. After 6 months using the backapp products, this decreased to 10! (see Table 1)
LESS HEADACHES
11 out of 27 reported headaches during and after work throughout the week After 6 months using the Backapp products, this was reduced to 7! (see Table 1)
LESS PAIN IN THE ARMS AND HANDS
9 of the 27 experienced pains in the arms and hands throughout the week After 6 months using the Backapp products, this was reduced to 1! (see Table 1)
THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS WITH PAIN FREE UPPER BODY INCREASED 8-FOLD
Only 1 of the 27 participants reported no pains in the upper body area using their traditional office chair. After 6 months using the Backapp products, this number was increased to 8.
THE AVERAGE REDUCTION WENT FROM 1.96 TO 1.18
Pain areas include the lumbar area, shoulder, neck head, arms and hands.
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 |
19 | 10 | 13 |
-31,6 |
Headaches during or after work |
11 | 8 | 7 |
-36,4 |
Lower back pain/stiffness |
14 | 11 | 11 | -21,4 |
Arm and/or hand pain |
9 | 4 | 1 |
8 times |
None of the above (pain score = 0) |
1 | 5 | 8 |
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 |
1 | 8 | 10 |
Pain score = 1 |
12 | 8 | 6 |
Pain score = 2 |
4 | 8 | 8 |
Pain score = 3 |
7 | 3 | 2 |
Pain score = 4 |
3 | 0 | 1 |
Total |
27 | 27 27 | |
Average pain score |
1,96 |
1,22 |
1,18 |
Change, % |
|
-37,7 |
-39,6 |