Validity and reliability of upper extremity three-dimensional kinematics during a typing task.

Area of Science:

• Ergonomics and Biomechanics
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Computer use is a known risk factor for work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
• Existing interventions and safety features have not fully mitigated these risks.
• A deeper understanding of movement patterns is crucial for effective risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the most suitable variable for upper extremity motion analysis in keyboarding tasks.
• To validate and assess the reliability of three-dimensional motion analysis parameters.
• To explore the potential of the CODA system for ergonomic assessments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized three-dimensional motion analysis with the Cartesian Optoelectronic Dynamic Anthropometric (CODA) system.
• Attached markers to the right hand, elbow, wrist, and fingers of 62 participants.
• Recorded range of motion and angular velocity during repetitive typing tasks and re-tested after one week.

Main Results:

• Peak-to-peak range of motion was identified as a highly suitable variable.
• Demonstrated significant discriminative validity in wrist range of motion (p<.01).
• Achieved good test-re-test reliability (.83>ICC>.70) and inter-rater reliability (.95>ICC>.70) for most variables.

Conclusions:

• The CODA system shows significant potential for analyzing upper extremity movement patterns.
• Peak-to-peak range of motion is a reliable metric for assessing keyboarding ergonomics.
• Findings provide a foundation for future research on ergonomic intervention efficacy.