title: Effects of anti-fatigue mats on perceived discomfort and weight-shifting during prolonged standing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of anti-fatigue mats on perceived discomfort and behavioral responses (weight-shifting between the feet) during prolonged standing.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Prolonged standing is a common requirement in the workplace and is a well-known cause of discomfort. Anti-fatigue mats have been shown to reduce discomfort resulting from standing, but no study has identified a particular mat that performs better than others or examined the relationship between discomfort and weight-shifting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants stood for 4 hours on four commercially available "anti-fatigue" mats and a hard surface (control condition). Subjective ratings of discomfort were measured, and in-shoe pressure was recorded and used to evaluate weight-shifting during standing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the control condition, after 4 hours of standing discomfort was reduced by three of the four mats, but discomfort ratings did not significantly differ among mats. However, significant differences among mats were found in the frequency of weight-shifting, and weight-shifting was positively correlated to discomfort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that subjective reports of discomfort were not sufficiently sensitive to detect differences among mats for the experimental conditions tested. Behavioral responses, specifically weight-shifting between feet, may provide a more sensitive alternative to subjective reports.
authors: Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan, 1161 Tekulve Rd. #401-20, Batesville, IN 47006, USA. newiggermann@gmail.com
authors: Neal
authors: N
authors: Wiggermann
authors: W Monroe
authors: WM
authors: Keyserling
mesh_terms: D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016526:Workload; D055815:Young Adult