Author(s): SCINICARELLI, G., KRAMPE, L., PETERS, D., AUGENSTEIN, M., WOLLESEN, B., Institution: GERMAN SPORT UNIVERSITY COLOGNE, Country: GERMANY, Abstract-ID: 1908

INTRODUCTION:
Prolonged sitting in office-based work is associated with musculoskeletal and metabolic health risks. “Active sitting” is increasingly applied as an ergonomic strategy to reduce static sitting; however, its definition and assessment remain inconsistent. This systematic literature review aims to synthesize existing concepts, relevant physiological and biomechanical parameters, and assessment methods of active sitting.
METHODS:
This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251008153). Literature searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus (up to April 2025). Randomized controlled trials, cohort, experimental, observational, and validation studies investigating ergonomic or active sitting in office-based work settings among healthy adults (18–64 years) were included. Extracted outcomes comprised definitions of active sitting, postural and spinal parameters, muscle activity, and the validity, reliability, and accuracy of applied measurement methods. Methodological quality was assessed using the criteria of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.
RESULTS:
From 2,182 identified records, 87 studies were included, comprising 2,721 participants (61.7% women; age range 18–67 years). Active sitting was predominantly described as a dynamic seated behaviour characterized by frequent low-amplitude postural changes and increased neuromuscular activation, yet without a standardized operational definition. Most studies assessed biomechanical parameters, such as trunk and pelvic kinematics and spinal alignment using 2D/3D motion analysis, as well as physiological measures (e.g., electromyography, accelerometer).
CONCLUSION:
Active sitting should be considered a complement rather than a substitute for active breaks and can be practically described by five core principles: low-amplitude movement, neuromuscular control, postural variability, maintenance of task performance, and temporal limitation of static sitting phases. These findings highlight the need for objective, multimodal assessment systems that integrate biomechanical, neuromuscular, and temporal parameters to enable standardized evaluation of active sitting in occupational settings.