Mechanical work and energy of sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit transitions performed with traditional and dynamic office chair designs.

This article focuses on comparing the mechanical work and total energy required to perform sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit transitions using a traditional office chair versus a novel dynamic chair designed for sit-stand workstations. In a study with fifteen participants, the dynamic chair significantly reduced whole-body mechanical work by approximately 56% and total energy by 64% during transitions, despite similar lumbar spine range-of-motion between chair types. The dynamic chair’s design, which includes a movable seat pan and eliminates the need for manual desk height adjustments, may address common barriers to long-term sit-stand workstation adherence such as fatigue, discomfort, and difficulty adjusting workstation height. These findings suggest that minimizing mechanical demands during posture transitions could promote more frequent use of sit-stand workstations and potentially improve ergonomic outcomes.