The Effects of Workplace Stressors on Muscle Activity in the Neck-Shoulder and Forearm Muscles During Computer Work: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Details

• Personal Author:
  Blatter BM ; Bruno Garza JL ; Dennerlein, Jack T. ; Eijckelhof BHW ; Huysmans MA ; van der Beek AJ ; van Dieën JH
• Description:
  Workplace stressors have been indicated to play a role in the development of neck and upper extremity pain possibly through an increase of sustained (low-level) muscle activity. The aim of this review was to study the effects of workplace stressors on muscle activity in the neck-shoulder and forearm muscles. An additional aim was to find out whether the muscles of the neck-shoulder and the forearm are affected differently by different types of workplace stressors. A systematic literature search was conducted on studies investigating the relation between simulated or realistic workplace stressors and neck-shoulder and forearm muscle activity. For studies meeting the inclusion criteria, a risk of bias assessment was performed and data were extracted for synthesis. Results were pooled when possible and otherwise described. Twenty-eight articles met the inclusion criteria, reporting data of 25 different studies. Except for one field study, all included studies were laboratory studies. Data of 19 articles could be included in the meta-analysis and revealed a statistically significant, medium increase in neck-shoulder and forearm muscle activity as a result of workplace stressors. In subgroup analyses, we found an equal effect of different stressor types (i.e. cognitive/emotional stress, work pace, and precision) on muscle activity in both body regions. In conclusion, simulated workplace stressors result in an increase in neck-shoulder and forearm muscle activity. No indications were found that different types of stressors affect these body regions differently. These conclusions are fully based on laboratory studies, since field studies on this topic are currently lacking. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Computers Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety Stress, Psychological
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Psychosocial Stress Biomechanics Electromyography Job Stress Mouse Use Posture Precision Psychosocial Factors Trapezius Upper Extremities Work Pace

  More +
• ISSN:
  1439-6319
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  113
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20056473
• Citation:
  Eur J Appl Physiol 2013 Dec; 113(12):2897-2912
• Contact Point Address:
  M. A. Huysmans. Department of Public and Occupational Health and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Email:
  m.huysmans@vumc.nl
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance ; Services
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard University, School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20080901
• Source Full Name:
  European Journal of Applied Physiology
• End Date:
  20130831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:99ae074353b5d284a7570c14225347938646b88675475d09bf9c138956d5fed4686321c404d41d3f52c901ba5889bbefe63d6d23e60665a4bb2babd29be288ca
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/214077/cdc_214077_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 681.00 KB ]