Event in Regensburg: Discussion on Healthy Sitting featuring Joachim Grifka
In a recent symposium organised by Prof. Joachim Grifka at the Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg (OTH Regensburg), rally world champion Walter Röhrl delivered a captivating keynote speech, sharing breathtaking videos and stories from his rally experiences.
Röhrl, who achieved his successes with custom-made individual seats, emphasised the significance of seat equipment for his driving skills, stating that he needs a seat like a second skin. This sentiment was echoed by Prof. Grifka, the head of the research unit of orthopedics and ergonomics at OTH Regensburg, who has developed a thoracic support for office chairs that has proven effective in routine use.
The symposium, themed "Healthy Sitting," also highlighted the growing concern about musculoskeletal disorders, particularly neck spine complaints, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. During this period, there was a 33% increase in patients with treatable neck spine complaints, with back and shoulder-neck complaints being particularly pronounced due to home office work.
The DKV has published an average daily sitting load of more than ten hours for screen work in Germany, and approximately 70% of jobs involve such screen work. As a result, the correct adjustment of the office chair and the screen position are crucial in preventing neck spine complaints.
Prof. Grifka commented that this model could serve as a blueprint for future equipment, implementable with modern manufacturing techniques for a large number of vehicle owners. The innovation of thorax support in an office chair was developed by Dr. med. Roland Roos and colleagues, as part of a research and dissertation project at Kliniken Valens; its effectiveness was evaluated through empirical user studies and clinical observations assessing posture improvement and patient comfort.
Mayor Dr. Astrid Freudenstein attended the symposium and highlighted the great innovative strength of OTH Regensburg. OTH Regensburg, in close collaboration with small and medium-sized businesses and industry, conducts application-oriented research to drive development and strengthen competitiveness.
For more information about Prof. Grifka and his work, visit his website or listen to a podcast episode featuring him. The podcast provides additional insights into the "Healthy Sitting" symposium and the importance of ergonomic seating in our daily lives.
Read also:
- Inadequate supply of accessible housing overlooks London's disabled community
- Strange discovery in EU: Rabbits found with unusual appendages resembling tentacles on their heads
- Duration of a Travelling Blood Clot: Time Scale Explained
- Fainting versus Seizures: Overlaps, Distinctions, and Proper Responses
