Loh Ping Yeap, Choi Jeewon, Lin Yu
Department of Life Design and Science, Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
Work. 2023;76(3):1039-1045. doi: 10.3233/WOR-220528.
Prolonged and sustained work posture among computer users is one of the main factors that contributes to musculoskeletal discomfort. Rest-break interventions such as task variation and microbreaks may help prevent muscle fatigue and work-related musculoskeletal disorder.
We aimed to investigate the effects of task variation and microbreaks at seated and standing workstations on forearm muscle activity, namely extensor digitorum communis, extensor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum superficialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris; mouse operation force (vertical compression force); mouse operation parameters; and perceived body discomfort during mouse operation.
Twelve healthy right-handed young adults were recruited (male: n = 7, 21.6±1.4 years; female: n = 5, 21.4±1.7 years). Participants performed three blocks of computer tasks (computer mouse operation and typing) in both seated and standing postures with each block lasting for 30 min. Surface electromyography (EMG) of the forearm muscles and operation force were monitored during computer mouse operation. Body discomfort rating was recorded at the end of each block.
With simulated task variation and microbreaks, work posture and work time showed no significant difference with EMG amplitude and mouse operation force.
Task variation and microbreaks could be of benefit to computer users by reducing muscle fatigue during long hours of computer work at both seated and standing workstations.
计算机用户长时间保持持续的工作姿势是导致肌肉骨骼不适的主要因素之一。诸如任务变化和短暂休息等休息干预措施可能有助于预防肌肉疲劳和与工作相关的肌肉骨骼疾病。
我们旨在研究在坐姿和站姿工作站进行任务变化和短暂休息对前臂肌肉活动（即指总伸肌、尺侧腕伸肌、指浅屈肌和尺侧腕屈肌）、鼠标操作力（垂直压力）、鼠标操作参数以及鼠标操作过程中身体不适感的影响。
招募了12名健康的右利手年轻成年人（男性：n = 7，21.6±1.4岁；女性：n = 5，21.4±1.7岁）。参与者以坐姿和站姿各进行三组计算机任务（计算机鼠标操作和打字），每组持续30分钟。在计算机鼠标操作过程中监测前臂肌肉的表面肌电图（EMG）和操作力。在每组任务结束时记录身体不适评分。
通过模拟任务变化和短暂休息，工作姿势和工作时间与肌电图幅度和鼠标操作力之间无显著差异。
任务变化和短暂休息可能对计算机用户有益，可减少在坐姿和站姿工作站长时间进行计算机工作时的肌肉疲劳。
