The relationship between musculoskeletal symptoms, postures and the fit between workers' anthropometrics and their computer workstation configuration

Details

• Personal Author:
  Baker NA ; Moehling K
• Description:
  OBJECTIVE: Awkward postures during computer use are assumed to be related to the fit between the worker and the workstation configuration, with greater mismatches leading to higher levels of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS). The objective of this study was to examine if chronic MSS of the neck/shoulder, back, and wrist/hands was associated with 1) discrepancies between workstation setups and worker anthropometrics and 2) workers' postures. PARTICIPANTS: Secondary analysis on data collected from a randomized controlled cross-over design trial (N=74). METHOD: Subjects' workstation configurations, baseline levels of MSS, working postures, and anthropometrics were measured. Correlations were completed to determine the association between postures and discrepancies between the worker anthropometrics and workstation configuration. Associations were examined between postures, workstation discrepancies and worker MSS. RESULTS: There were only 3 significant associations between worker posture and MSS, and 3 significant associations between discrepancies in worker/workstation set-up and MSS. CONCLUSION: The relationship between chronic MSS and the workers computer workstation configuration is multifactorial. While postures and the fit between the worker and workstation may be associated with MSS, other variables need to be explored to better understand the phenomenon. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aging Computers Engineering Ergonomics Men Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Preventive Medicine Safety Women Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Age-groups Anthropometry Author Keywords: Computer Workstation Etiology Humans Muscle-stress Musculoskeletal-system Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Musculoskeletal Discomfort Posture Preventive-medicine Work-areas Workers Workstation Assessment

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• ISSN:
  1051-9815
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  3-10
• Volume:
  46
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20044466
• Citation:
  Work 2013 Sep; 46(1):3-10
• Contact Point Address:
  Nancy A. Baker, Department of Occupational Therapy, 5012 Forbes Tower, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260
• Email:
  nab36@pitt.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Performing Organization:
  University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20080901
• Source Full Name:
  Work
• End Date:
  20130831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a93e53a32329bde94bed38d44b895c0c716e1e0802af4da3a0939e3928488a7366d21b0db06d6a0b222ea979a8fb545dfa43860354e5f25e43cccd4127aaffae
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/200158/cdc_200158_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 169.41 KB ]