Wrist and Forearm Posture from Typing on Split and Vertically Inclined Computer Keyboards

Details

• Personal Author:
  Marklin RW ; Monroe JF ; Simoneau GG
• Description:
  A study was conducted on 90 experienced office workers to determine how commercially available alternative computer keyboards affected wrist and forearm posture. The alternative keyboards tested had the QWERTY layout of keys and were of three designs: split fixed angle, split adjustable angle, and vertically inclined (tilted or tented). When set up correctly, commercially available split keyboards reduced mean ulnar deviation of the right and left wrists from 12 degrees to within 5 degrees of a neutral position compared with a conventional keyboard. The finding that split keyboards place the wrist closer to a neutral posture in the radial/ulnar plane substantially reduces one occupational risk factor of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs): ulnar deviation of the wrist. Applications of this research include commercially available computer keyboard designs that typists can use and ergonomists can recommend to their clients in order to minimize wrist ulnar deviation from typing. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cumulative Trauma Disorders Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Cumulative-trauma-disorders Equipment-design Human-factors-engineering Humans Keyboard-operators Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Office-workers Repetitive-work
• ISSN:
  0018-7208
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 5 ; Wisconsin
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  41
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20031298
• Citation:
  Hum Factors 1999 Dec; 41(4):559-569
• Contact Point Address:
  Marquette University, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
• Email:
  ergo@marquette.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2000
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities
• Performing Organization:
  Marquette University, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19940930
• Source Full Name:
  Human Factors
• End Date:
  19961031
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c0acc685562e111f33301d503ce7342618c662c6fe3a1d62a7085ae7c07f67e9f19525f46ac447c603c7aaaaf4745f67eb2e74005d0dfaa035fdaaaae7ae3b3c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/191592/cdc_191592_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 133.93 KB ]