Sitting Posture and Neck and Shoulder Muscle Activities at Different Screen Height Settings of the Visual Display Terminal

The effects of the VDT screen height on working posture and electromyographic (EMG) activities of the neck and shoulder muscles were determined in 10 healthy subjects. The subjects performed a mouse-driven interactive task at the screen height settings of 80, 100 and 120cm. Changes in body positions...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Industrial Health 1997, Vol.35(3), pp.330-336
Main Authors: VILLANUEVA, Maria Beatriz G., JONAI, Hiroshi, SOTOYAMA, Midori, HISANAGA, Naomi, TAKEUCHI, Yasuhiro, SAITO, Susumu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Analysis of Variance
Computer Terminals
Electromyography
Electromyography (EMG)
Female
Head Movements - physiology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neck extensor muscle
Neck Muscles - physiology
Posture
Screen height
Shoulder - physiology
Space life sciences
Statistics, Nonparametric
Trapezius muscle
Visual display terminal (VDT)
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Description
Summary:The effects of the VDT screen height on working posture and electromyographic (EMG) activities of the neck and shoulder muscles were determined in 10 healthy subjects. The subjects performed a mouse-driven interactive task at the screen height settings of 80, 100 and 120cm. Changes in body positions were measured by video image and frame analysis. Surface EMG recordings were done on the neck extensor muscle and the descending part of the trapezius muscle, both on the right side. The results of the postural analysis showed that at higher screen height settings, the neck became significantly more erect. The subjects also assumed a more backward-leaning trunk position at higher screen heights. The EMG activities of the neck and shoulder muscles were related to the neck angle and trunk inclination, respectively. A more flexed neck produced significantly higher neck extensor muscle activities. A backward-leaning trunk was also noted to decrease trapezius muscle activity in some subjects.
ISSN:0019-8366
1880-8026
DOI:10.2486/indhealth.35.330