Seated Posture Ergonomics

Redefining desk-based work:

Prioritizing posture and movement for pain-free workdays

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The Importance of good Posture and Activity

In today’s modern workplace, desk-based jobs dominate a significant portion of the workforce, with millions spending the majority of their day seated and working on computers. This sedentary nature of work, coupled with poor posture, has led to a sharp rise in Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), particularly causing pain and discomfort in the back, neck, and shoulders. Research indicates that between 33.8% and 95.3% of desk-based staff experience MSD symptoms annually¹, highlighting the widespread impact of these issues.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identifies both awkward postures and inadequate activity as key contributors to MSDs in desk-based roles². In today’s sedentary lifestyles, many workers find themselves slouching, leaning forward, or adopting other poor postural habits, especially during prolonged periods at desks or computers. Slouching, in particular, places excessive strain on the spine and surrounding muscles, disrupting natural alignment and leading to discomfort and long-term damage. A recent study found that office workers spend an average of 68.2% of their workday sitting, with some individuals spending over 75% of their time seated³. This prolonged sitting, combined with poor posture, significantly increases the risk of developing MSDs.

While ergonomic workstations, including sit-stand desks, can help support proper posture by providing flexibility between sitting and standing, they alone cannot replace the need for regular movement and posture adjustments throughout the day. A balanced approach that incorporates both proper alignment and frequent activity is crucial for reducing the risk of MSDs and improving overall health in desk-based work environments.

MOVA SEAT

SpatialCortex MOVA SEAT offers an innovative solution to help improve posture and promote activity throughout the workday. MOVA is a small, wearable device that attaches to your upper back or lower neck area and connects to its dedicated mobile app. It continuously monitors your posture and movement habits, providing real-time feedback to help you maintain proper alignment. By leveraging advanced sensor technology, MOVA detects when you are slouching or adopting poor posture and gently reminds you to adjust your position.

In addition to posture reminders, MOVA also encourages movement and activity by sending alerts to prompt you to take breaks, stretch, or engage in dynamic rest. HSE suggests that taking short breaks, at least 5 minutes every hour, is essential for reducing the risks associated with prolonged sitting and sedentary behaviours 4, and MOVA makes it easy to incorporate this habit into your workday.

By combining ergonomic principles with cutting-edge technology, the SpatialCortex MOVA SEAT helps you develop healthier posture and activity habits, ultimately reducing discomfort and supporting long-term musculoskeletal health.

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Transform Your Posture and Movement Habits with MOVA SEAT

Over the course of a few weeks, the innovative MOVA device and mobile app will guide you on a transformative journey towards developing a deeper understanding of both your posture and activity levels while working. By combining advanced tracking features, real-time feedback, and thoughtful evaluation, MOVA helps you learn and adopt healthier habits for a more balanced and productive workday.

Initial survey: Start with a brief survey to reflect on your work setup, posture, and activity habits. This step provides useful prompts for making preliminary adjustments to your workstation and routine.
Posture and activity monitoring: Use the ‘Monitor Posture’ functionality to develop a quantitative understanding of your postural patterns and movement habits throughout the workday. This feature highlights periods of slouching or extended inactivity, helping you identify areas for improvement.
Real-time alerts: Receive optional timely haptic alerts whenever your posture deviates from optimal alignment or when you’ve been sedentary for too long. These reminders empower you to actively correct your stance, incorporate movement, and reinforce positive habits during your workday.
Completion survey: Complete a follow-up survey to evaluate your improvements in posture and activity levels, enabling you to measure progress and sustain the positive changes you've made.

This comprehensive approach combines self-assessment, data tracking, real-time feedback, and reflective evaluation to cultivate lasting habits of good posture and regular activity while working. MOVA empowers you to take control of your well-being, reducing discomfort and promoting Musculoskeletal health for the long term.

Getting started with the App

Getting started with the MOVA SEAT App

Find the MOVA SEAT App on the mobile device
Make sure you are connected to the internet / WiFi
Login using the credentials provided
- user name: your work email ID
- default password: 123456

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Powering the device On/Off

To turn on the device, press and hold the power switch for 3 seconds. The green LED will light up, indicating that the device is powered on. To turn off the device, press and hold the power switch again for 3 seconds.

Attaching the device

Attach the device securely
Use the provided clip to attach the MOVA device to your shirt, t-shirt, or workwear.

Placement for best performance
For accurate posture tracking, position the device in the highlighted region of your upper back, between the shoulder blades. Ensure the device is oriented downward and sits flat against your back without any sideways twist.

Check the fit
The device should follow the natural contour of your upper back during movement. Avoid attaching it to collars or garments that do not align with the upper back's shape, as this may impact tracking accuracy.

Using MOVA SEAT to monitor posture and activity while working

MOVA's ‘Monitor Posture’ functionality enables you to track and improve your posture throughout the workday while also monitoring your activity and movement habits. Follow these steps to get started:,

Login to your MOVA SEAT App
Select ‘Monitor Posture’
Tap ‘Scan MOVA devices’. Ensure your MOVA device is powered on, and its name will appear in the drop-down list. Select the device and press ‘Connect’.
On the ‘Monitor Posture’ page, press the ‘Start’ button to begin tracking.
You will be guided through a brief calibration step. Stand upright and still for a few seconds, then turn to your left or right and remain still for a few more seconds. Follow the prompts on the app for accurate calibration.
Once calibrated, the app will begin tracking your posture and activity in real-time.
Press the ‘Stop’ button when you're finished to end the session.

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Using MOVA SEAT with real-time feedback to improve posture and activity habits

You can enable real-time haptic feedback on the ‘Monitor Posture’ page to receive immediate alerts when slouching is detected or your posture is compromised.

Adjust the sensitivity of the tracking and feedback (Low – Mid – High) to a level that suits your preferences.

You can also activate haptic alerts to promote activity throughout the day. Receive reminders after 30 or 60 minutes of continuous inactivity, encouraging you to stretch or take a quick walk.

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Viewing data

Pressing the ‘View Data’ button on the Home Page takes you to the Results page, where data is displayed as follows:

Weekly View: Displays a snapshot of time spent in good posture and activity levels (average activity minutes per hour) for each day of the week. Tap a specific day to see the daily details.
Daily View: Shows the risk score throughout the working hours of the day.

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Charging the device

To charge the device, use the provided charging cable and connect it to the USB-C port. Plug the other end into a standard USB-A power supply. The amber LED will light up while the device is charging and will turn green when the device is fully charged.

Note

The battery is meant to last over 2 work shifts (of 8 hours each) when used for posture tracking. However, the run-time will vary when real-time haptic feedback is activated. It is recommended that the device is changed at the end of every work shift.

Survey

The ‘Survey’ button on the Home Page takes you to pages where you can complete both the Initial and Completion surveys. These surveys are designed to help you reflect on your current work setup and posture at the start, and assess your progress and improvements by the end of the program.

Troubleshooting

1. Logging In Issues

Check internet: Ensure you are connected to the internet.
Restart App: If the error persists, restart the app.
Forgot Password: Reset your password using the "Forgot Password" link.

2. 'Device not connectable’ error

Wait a few seconds before pressing the "Start" button again.
Re-scan and reconnect to the device on the previous page.
Ensure the device is powered on.
Restart the app if the issue persists.

3. 'Calibration failed’ error

Follow the calibration steps in the app:
Stand upright and still for a few seconds when prompted.
Turn left or right as instructed and remain still until prompted.
Follow the prompts in the App UI during calibration

4. Bluetooth connection issues

Keep the mobile device within range of the MOVA device.
If the connection drops, the app will attempt to reconnect automatically.
For prolonged disconnections, the session will stop with an error message, and you will need to:
Bring the device back into range.
Press "Start" to resume the session.

5. Recalibrating while using the device

The device can move with movements throughout the day. It can become more sensitive or less sensitive as a result. If that happens, please re-calibrate. To recalibrate,
End the current session.
Select "Reset" in Calibration settings and restart the session.
Alternatively, close and restart the app.

6. Internet Connectivity

While the app and device can function offline, internet connectivity is recommended for:
Synchronizing and viewing data smoothly.
Logging in and initial authentication (mandatory).

If the issue persists, please email us at info@spatialcortex.co.uk.