EMG-Based Methods for Testing Non-Keyboard Input Devices

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bonato P
• Description:
  Computer users who experience repetitive wrist movements and awkward hand positions are prone to developing upper extremity disorders. Manufacturers have designed various ergonomic mice in response to complaints of pain and discomfort related to computer mouse use. The objective of this work was to validate the use of surface electromyography (EMG) in assessing the design of non-keyboard input devices (computer mice). While holding the computer mouse EMG of the forearm and hand were recorded during a set of static tasks. The EMG signal provided information regarding the level of muscle activity and the varied combinations of muscular effort needed during computer mouse use. A significant decrease in the level of EMG activity was observed for the pronator muscles when subjects were tested using ergonomic computer mice. The EMG-based method was validated to be sensitive to the impact of subtle differences in shape/design of the computer mice on the amplitude of the surface EMG data. We also proved a significant effect of hand size on the level of muscle activity associated with different computer mice. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Computers Cumulative Trauma Disorders Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Analytical-instruments Analytical-processes Anthropometry Computer-equipment Cumulative-trauma Cumulative-trauma-disorders Musculoskeletal-system Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Repetitive-work
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-25
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20026210
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2005-104000
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, K01-OH-000187, 2005 Feb; :1-25
• Contact Point Address:
  P. Bonato, Director, Motion Analysis Laboratory, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, 125 Nashua Street, Boston, MA 02114
• Email:
  pbonato@partners.org
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• NORA Priority Area:
  Research Tools and Approaches: Exposure Assessment Methods
• Performing Organization:
  Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20000801
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20030731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fe165428af30e57a4c1a216069c24136e3a4229ea801c62a4c24e68e07747254e4f7105f1eeeedb06eb0bfa4f731c7eacd7c79aceeac33087387425ef0324e3a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/218284/cdc_218284_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.28 MB ]