Natural rubber stretching band-assisted micro-break interventions for enhancing biomechanical performance and autonomic balance during simulated office work

Information from the abstract

Prolonged sedentary behavior and static muscle loading during extended office work significantly escalate the risk of musculoskeletal disorders and cardiometabolic decline. An active micro-break associating these risks and the implementation of using bio-based materials as active ergonomic interventions remains largely unexplored. This study evaluates a novel, eco-friendly natural rubber (NR) stretching band to support physiological and musculoskeletal health during prolonged sitting. In a randomized controlled trial, 32 healthy office workers were randomly allocated to one of four intervention groups: a customized natural rubber (NR) band, a commercial synthetic resistance band, movement-only breaks, or continuous sitting (control). Each participant completed a single 110-minute simulated office work session under their assigned condition. Physiological and neuromuscular dynamics were continuously quantified via surface electromyography (sEMG) of the sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, and deltoid muscles, alongside heart rate variability (HRV) indices. To decode complex physiological patterns, a Random Forest machine learning algorithm was trained on extracted sEMG features across multiple decision trees to classify intervention efficacy. The customized NR band intervention demonstrated superior physiological outcomes compared to synthetic alternatives and static sitting. Users exhibited enhanced autonomic regulation, characterized by elevated root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and significantly reduced HRV stress index values. Neuromuscular analysis revealed enhanced relaxation in the deltoid muscle during active tasks. Furthermore, the Random Forest model classified the intervention states with 87% accuracy, identifying trapezius sEMG skewness as the most critical feature for evaluating musculoskeletal strain and recovery performance. These findings demonstrate that advanced organic materials like natural rubber can actively interface with the human body to counteract the adverse effects of sedentary behavior. As a result of validated results from machine learning architectures, this study provides a blueprint for scalable, BCG-aligned smart ergonomics, demonstrating how sustainable biomaterials can positively influence occupational health and preventive medicine.

Why this record is monitored

This record has an Impact Signal of 73/100 based on recency, source, collaboration, and bibliographic signals. It prioritizes monitoring and is not a judgment of research quality.

Related topics: Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention · Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Robotics · Effects of Vibration on Health