The relationship between movement behavior, musculoskeletal discomfort, and cardiometabolic measures among sedentary office workers

Background: Sedentary behavior is associated with musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) and especially prevalent in office workers. Objective: This cross-sectional analysis examined postures and activities of office workers to determine whether there were associations between posture/activity levels, MSD, and cardiometabolic measures. Methods: Participants completed baseline questionnaires, wore an inertial measuring unit, blood pressure cuff, and heart rate monitor to quantify posture, physical activity, and cardiometabolic measures. The relationships among posture/activity, MSD, and cardiometabolic data were assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: There were weak to moderate negative correlations between steps per day, hours spent standing, and hours spent walking and MSD. Weak to moderate positive correlations existed between time spent sitting, transitions, and MSD, yet there were moderate correlations between the number of transitions and measures of heart rate. Conclusion: Future interventions should take into consideration comprehensive approaches to decrease sedentary time throughout the day and maximize worker health.