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Electromyographic activity during typewriter and keyboard use

E Fernström1, M O Ericson, H Malker

  • 1Swedish Foundation for Occupational Health and Safety for State Employees, Stockholm.

Ergonomics
|March 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Ergonomic keyboard design minimally impacts neck and shoulder strain. Modern keyboards and angled designs did not significantly alter muscle activity compared to older mechanical types.

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Area of Science:

  • Ergonomics
  • Occupational Health
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Repetitive typing tasks can lead to musculoskeletal discomfort.
  • Keyboard design is a key factor in ergonomic assessments.
  • Understanding muscle strain from different keyboard types is crucial for workplace health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the influence of various keyboard designs on neck and shoulder muscle strain.
  • To compare muscular activity across mechanical, electromechanical, electronic typewriters, and personal computer keyboards.
  • To assess the effect of a palmrest and an angled keyboard on muscle strain.

Main Methods:

  • Electromyography (EMG) was used to measure muscle activity in forearm and shoulder muscles.
  • Eight experienced typists participated in the study.
  • Five keyboard types were tested: mechanical, electromechanical, electronic typewriter, standard PC-XT, and an angled PC-XT keyboard.

Main Results:

  • Mechanical typewriters induced higher forearm and finger muscle strain than modern keyboards.
  • No significant differences in neck and shoulder muscle strain were observed across most keyboard types.
  • The electronic typewriter showed increased activity in the right shoulder muscle; palmrests offered no reduction in strain.

Conclusions:

  • Modern keyboard designs do not significantly increase neck and shoulder muscle strain compared to older mechanical types.
  • Specific keyboard features, like the electronic typewriter's impact on the right shoulder, warrant attention.
  • Angled keyboards and palmrests showed limited benefits in reducing measured muscular strain in this study.

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