These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Influence of Input Hardware and Work Surface Angle on Upper Limb Posture in a Hybrid Computer Workstation.
    Author: Kingston DC, Riddell MF, McKinnon CD, Gallagher KM, Callaghan JP.
    Journal: Hum Factors; 2016 Feb; 58(1):107-19. PubMed ID: 26424775.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of work surface angle and input hardware on upper-limb posture when using a hybrid computer workstation. BACKGROUND: Offices use sit-stand and/or tablet workstations to increase worker mobility. These workstations may have negative effects on upper-limb joints by increasing time spent in non-neutral postures, but a hybrid standing workstation may improve working postures. METHOD: Fourteen participants completed office tasks in four workstation configurations: a horizontal or sloped 15° working surface with computer or tablet hardware. Three-dimensional right upper-limb postures were recorded during three tasks: reading, form filling, and writing e-mails. Amplitude probability distribution functions determined the median and range of upper-limb postures. RESULTS: The sloped-surface tablet workstation decreased wrist ulnar deviation by 5° when compared to the horizontal-surface computer when reading. When using computer input devices (keyboard and mouse), the shoulder, elbow, and wrist were closest to neutral joint postures when working on a horizontal work surface. The elbow was 23° and 15° more extended, whereas the wrist was 6° less ulnar deviated, when reading compared to typing forms or e-mails. CONCLUSION: We recommend that the horizontal-surface computer configuration be used for typing and the sloped-surface tablet configuration be used for intermittent reading tasks in this hybrid workstation. APPLICATION: Offices with mobile employees could use this workstation for alternating their upper-extremity postures; however, other aspects of the device need further investigation.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]