The effect of upper extremity support on upper extremity posture and muscle activity during keyboard use

Catherine Cook; Robin Burgess-Limerick; Shona M. Papalia

The effect of upper extremity support on upper extremity posture and muscle activity during keyboard use

Catherine Cook, Robin Burgess-Limerick, Shona M. Papalia

School of Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

77 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Forearm support during keyboard use has been reported to reduce neck and shoulder muscle activity and discomfort. However, the effect of forearm support on wrist posture has not been examined. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of 3 different postures during keyboard use: forearm support, wrist support and ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢"šÂ¬Ã…"floatingÃƒÂ¢Ã¢"šÂ¬Ã‚Â. The floating posture (no support) was used as the reference condition. A wrist rest was present in all test conditions. Thirteen participants completed 20 min wordprocessing tasks in each of the test conditions. Electromyography was used to monitor neck, shoulder and forearm muscle activity. Bilateral and overhead video cameras recorded left and right wrist extension, shoulder and elbow flexion and radial and ulnar deviation. The forearm support condition resulted in significantly less ulnar deviation (

Original language	English
Number of pages	8
Journal	Applied ergonomics
Publication status	Published - 2004

Keywords

computer keyboard
forearm support
musculoskeletal system
wrist rest

Cite this

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T1 - The effect of upper extremity support on upper extremity posture and muscle activity during keyboard use

AU - Cook, Catherine

AU - Burgess-Limerick, Robin

AU - Papalia, Shona M.

PY - 2004

Y1 - 2004

N2 - Forearm support during keyboard use has been reported to reduce neck and shoulder muscle activity and discomfort. However, the effect of forearm support on wrist posture has not been examined. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of 3 different postures during keyboard use: forearm support, wrist support and ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢"šÂ¬Ã…"floatingÃƒÂ¢Ã¢"šÂ¬Ã‚Â. The floating posture (no support) was used as the reference condition. A wrist rest was present in all test conditions. Thirteen participants completed 20 min wordprocessing tasks in each of the test conditions. Electromyography was used to monitor neck, shoulder and forearm muscle activity. Bilateral and overhead video cameras recorded left and right wrist extension, shoulder and elbow flexion and radial and ulnar deviation. The forearm support condition resulted in significantly less ulnar deviation (

AB - Forearm support during keyboard use has been reported to reduce neck and shoulder muscle activity and discomfort. However, the effect of forearm support on wrist posture has not been examined. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of 3 different postures during keyboard use: forearm support, wrist support and ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢"šÂ¬Ã…"floatingÃƒÂ¢Ã¢"šÂ¬Ã‚Â. The floating posture (no support) was used as the reference condition. A wrist rest was present in all test conditions. Thirteen participants completed 20 min wordprocessing tasks in each of the test conditions. Electromyography was used to monitor neck, shoulder and forearm muscle activity. Bilateral and overhead video cameras recorded left and right wrist extension, shoulder and elbow flexion and radial and ulnar deviation. The forearm support condition resulted in significantly less ulnar deviation (

KW - computer keyboard

KW - forearm support

KW - musculoskeletal system

KW - wrist rest

UR - http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/10430

M3 - Article

C2 - 15145291

SN - 0003-6870

JO - Applied ergonomics

JF - Applied ergonomics

ER -

The effect of upper extremity support on upper extremity posture and muscle activity during keyboard use

Abstract

Keywords

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