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EXAMINING PAIN AND COGNITIVE DEPLETION FROM PROLONGED SITTING: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

PURPOSE: Knowledge workers typically perform seated computer work, which is associated with poor physical well-being. Despite this, changes to the seated work environment have been limited. Exploring how physical symptoms developed while sitting, such as pain, impact the person’s ability to complete tasks may provide change justifications. This pilot study explored how cognitive depletion (a state of reduced cognitive capacity for initiative, choice, and self-regulation) and physical pain are affected during a 2-hr seated computer work simulation. METHODS: Nine participants (7 female) aged 18-40 who were employed in a job with at least 50% computer tasks worked at a computer workstation in a research lab for 120 minutes. They took surveys at 0, 60, and 120 minutes and did standardized mouse and keyboard tasks in between. Perceived pain was measured using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Pain Scale and the Physical Symptom Inventory. Cognitive depletion was measured using five questions, such as “I feel drained right now” and “My mental energy is running low right now.” A non-parametric repeated measures ANOVA assessed changes in cognitive depletion over time, and descriptive statistics were calculated for cognitive depletion based on pain over time. RESULTS: Cognitive depletion increased over time (p=.045), from a median of 7 [interquartile range=6-10] at baseline to 17 [15-20] after 2-hrs (max score=25). Seven of 9 participants reported eye strain, and cognitive depletion was higher after 2-hrs in those with eye strain (Table 1). CONCLUSION: Cognitive depletion occurred over two hours of seated computer work and may worsen with pain. Since cognitive depletion may also signal a potential for decreased job performance, future work will expand this study with additional pain intensity, executive function, and job performance (e.g., creativity and error) measures.

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