Keyboard use and musculoskeletal outcomes among computer users.
Background: In this review, the epidemiological evidence examining associations between upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders and keyboard use intensity (hours of computer use-per day or per-week) and computer user posture was explored. Methods: An OVID Medline((R)) literature searc...
| Published in: | Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 265 - 278 |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | review tables/charts Journal Article |
| Published: |
Springer Nature
Sep2006
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=106367391&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 106367391 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 10530487 JOR jtl: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation issn: 10530487 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Sep2006 vid: 16 iid: 3 pid: 237 pub: Springer Nature place: New York, New York artinfo: ui: 106367391 106367391 2009300857 10.1007/s10926-006-9037-0 NLM16802184 106367391 ppf: 265 ppct: 13 formats: fmt: @attributes: type: P tig: atl: Keyboard use and musculoskeletal outcomes among computer users. aug: au: Gerr F Monteilh CP Marcus M affil: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 100 Oakdale Campus, Iowa City, IA 52242; fred-gerr@uiowa.edu. sug: subj: Computers and Computerization Utilization Musculoskeletal Diseases Etiology Posture Keyboards Occupational Diseases Etiology Pain Etiology Upper Extremity Injuries ab: Background: In this review, the epidemiological evidence examining associations between upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders and keyboard use intensity (hours of computer use-per day or per-week) and computer user posture was explored. Methods: An OVID Medline((R)) literature search was conducted to identify papers published in the peer-reviewed medical literature between 1966 and November, 2005. A total of 558 citations were found and reviewed. Those papers in which associations between musculoskeletal outcomes and (1) posture (ascertained by a study investigator) or (2) computer use, in units of hours-per-day, hours-per-week, or as a percent of work-time, were included in the review. Results: Thirty-nine epidemiological studies examining associations between computer use and MSD outcomes were identified. While the observational epidemiological literature was heterogeneous, some trends did emerge. It appears that the most consistent finding was the association observed between hours keying and hand/arm outcomes. Associations between some postural effects and musculoskeletal outcomes may also be inferred from the literature. In particular, placing the keyboard below the elbow, limiting head rotation, and resting the arms appears to result in reduced risk of neck/shoulder outcomes. Minimizing ulnar deviation and keyboard thickness appears to result in reduced risk of hand/arm outcomes. Conclusions: Several methodological limitations, including non-representative samples, imprecise or biased measures of exposure and health outcome, incomplete control of confounding, and reversal of cause and effect, may contribute to the heterogeneity of observed results. Suggestions are made for improving the validity of future investigations. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: review tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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