Postural and Muscular Responses While Viewing Different Heights of Screen.

This study aimed to examine the effects of visual display terminal (VDT) viewing angle on human postural angle and muscular activity. The participants' neck, thoracic bending, and trunk inclination angles; and the activity of sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, splenius capitis, and erector spinae at 5...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Journal of Occupational Safety & Ergonomics Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 251 - 259
Main Authors: Tzu-Hsien Lee, Tsung-Yu Liu
Format: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd 2013
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:This study aimed to examine the effects of visual display terminal (VDT) viewing angle on human postural angle and muscular activity. The participants' neck, thoracic bending, and trunk inclination angles; and the activity of sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, splenius capitis, and erector spinae at 5 viewing angles (+40º, +20º, 0º, -20º, and -40º) of a VDT screen were collected for 1 min. This study showed that neck and thoracic bending angles increased with viewing angle, while viewing angle did not significantly affect trunk inclination angle. In addition, the activity of trapezius and erector spinae increased when viewing a higher or lower VDT screen height compared with viewing a horizontal VDT screen height; however, the activity of splenius capitis decreased with viewing angle.