Alternative to Reduced Stresses on the Upper Extremity in a Standing Workstation

This study evaluated a standing armrest to provide more acceptable ergonomic guidelines that may reduce the cost of standing computer workstations.

Of the many advantages of standing workstations, there have been no efforts to minimize the biomechanical cost, such as larger wrist extension and greater forearm muscle activity than sitting.

Sixteen participants were asked to perform a typing task under a combination of the following factors: (1) desk shape (rectangular and concave); (2) desk height (0, +5, -5 cm from 90° elbow flexion); and (3) monitor height (0, -10 cm from the eyes). During the trials, the trunk kinematics, muscle activation levels, and CoP were recorded.

Both arms were further away from the upper body under the concave and +5 desk height than under the normal condition, but significant decreases in the extensor carpi radialis (8.6%), anterior deltoid (28.8%), and L4 paraspinals (5.5%) were observed. Similarly, the wrist extension angle decreased by 10.5° (42%) under this condition, but the posture required a 2.2° (19%) increase in wrist adduction angle. The CoP irregularity was greater under the concave workstation, indicating more complex motion.

A higher and concave desk can provide an armrest effect while engaged in a standing workstation by reducing the wrist extension and related muscle activation level, but at the cost of a larger wrist adduction angle.

Providing a standing armrest (+5 cm height and concave desk) could reduce the stresses on the upper extremities, but a split keyboard should be considered to minimize wrist adduction.