Postural Stability and Perceived Control in Functional Performance During Occupational Precision Sewing
- 1Faculty of Medicine. Department of Medical Technology, Occupational Therapy section, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
Abstract
Background:: Precision manual work is linked to sustained postural exposure and a higher risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The extent to which working posture influences functional performance via postural stability and perceived control remains underexplored in occupational settings. This study examined the effects of seated and standing working postures on physical load, mental workload, and functional task performance during occupational precision sewing.
Methods:: A within-subject crossover experiment was conducted with 26 experienced sewing machine operators. Participants performed standardized sewing tasks in seated and standing postures. Outcomes included perceived physical effort (Borg CR-10), postural risk (RULA), mental workload (NASA-TLX), execution time, sewing quality, and qualitative perceptions of control and stability.
Results:: Standing posture was associated with higher lower-limb effort (p=0.010), increased postural risk (χ2=60.24, p<0.001), and higher overall mental workload (p=0.033). Sewing quality was moderately reduced in the standing condition, while execution time did not differ (p=0.437). Qualitative findings indicated that standing increased weight-bearing discomfort and postural regulation demands, whereas seated posture supported greater perceived control for precise stitching.
Conclusions:: Working posture influenced functional performance primarily through stability and perceived control mechanisms. Sustained standing during precision work may increase musculoskeletal risk and compromise task accuracy. Well-adjusted seated workstations should be prioritized for occupational precision sewing tasks. Posture alternation strategies should be carefully managed to balance musculoskeletal load and performance quality.
Related
- Effects of inspiratory or respiratory muscle training on respiratory function, perceived exertion, and exercise or functional performance in team-sport athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Associations of sleep disturbance and emotion regulation with perceived workplace safety and fatigue among male firefighters with prior occupational accidents : A cross-sectional study
- Perceived Social and Emotional Support from Co-Workers and Supervisors and Occupational Stress in Emergency Physicians: A Pre-Pandemic National Cross-Sectional Study from Slovenia
- Occupational burnout in the UK film and television industry: A cross-sectional survey of mental health, job quality, perceived stigma, and sexual harassment
- Occupational stressors, perceived injustice, and pathways to pain interference and insomnia among workers with headache or low back pain
BibTeX
@article{escobargalindo2026postural,
title = {{Postural Stability and Perceived Control in Functional Performance During Occupational Precision Sewing}},
author = {Carlos Manuel Escobar-Galindo and María Jesús Jiménez-Diaz and María de Jesús Yauri-Chonón and María Alejandra Blanco-Soria},
journal = {La Medicina del Lavoro},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.23749/mdl.2026.18639},
url = {https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.2026.18639},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Postural Stability and Perceived Control in Functional Performance During Occupational Precision Sewing
AU - Carlos Manuel Escobar-Galindo
AU - María Jesús Jiménez-Diaz
AU - María de Jesús Yauri-Chonón
AU - María Alejandra Blanco-Soria
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - La Medicina del Lavoro
DO - 10.23749/mdl.2026.18639
UR - https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.2026.18639
AB - Background:: Precision manual work is linked to sustained postural exposure and a higher risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The extent to which working posture influences functional performance via postural stability and perceived control remains underexplored in occupational settings. This study examined the effects of seated and standing working postures on physical load, mental workload, and functional task performance during occupational precision sewing. Methods:: A within-subject crossover experiment was conducted with 26 experienced sewing machine operators. Participants performed standardized sewing tasks in seated and standing postures. Outcomes included perceived physical effort (Borg CR-10), postural risk (RULA), mental workload (NASA-TLX), execution time, sewing quality, and qualitative perceptions of control and stability. Results:: Standing posture was associated with higher lower-limb effort (p=0.010), increased postural risk (χ2=60.24, p<0.001), and higher overall mental workload (p=0.033). Sewing quality was moderately reduced in the standing condition, while execution time did not differ (p=0.437). Qualitative findings indicated that standing increased weight-bearing discomfort and postural regulation demands, whereas seated posture supported greater perceived control for precise stitching. Conclusions:: Working posture influenced functional performance primarily through stability and perceived control mechanisms. Sustained standing during precision work may increase musculoskeletal risk and compromise task accuracy. Well-adjusted seated workstations should be prioritized for occupational precision sewing tasks. Posture alternation strategies should be carefully managed to balance musculoskeletal load and performance quality.
SN - 0025-7818
SN - 2532-1080
ER -