Title of article :
Effects of the Computer Desk Level on the Musculoskeletal Discomfort of Neck and Upper Extremities and EMG Activities in Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries
Author/Authors :
Kang , Bo-Ra Department of Occupational Therapy - Yonseimadu Hospital - Goyang, Republic of Korea , Her , Jin-Gang Department of Rehabilitation Therapy - Graduate School of Hallym University - Chuncheon, Republic of Korea , Lee , Ju-Sang Department of Physical Therapy - Hallym Polytechnic University - Chuncheon, Republic of Korea , Ko, Tae-Sung Department of Physical Therapy - Daewon University College - Jecheon, Republic of Korea , You, Young-Youl Department of Physical Therapy - Bronco Memorial Hospital - Hwaseong, Republic of Korea
Abstract :
Computersareusedasameansofsocialcommunication,forworkandotherpurposes.However,patientswithspinal
cordinjuriesmayhaveahigherriskthannormalindividualswithmusculoskeletalproblemswhenusingcomputersowingtotheir
inabilitytocontrolrespectiveposturesduetoproblemsinmotorandsensoryfunctioning.Objectives.Thisstudyisaimedat
identifyingtheeffectofcomputerdeskheightsonmusculoskeletaldiscomfortsoftheneckandupperextremitiesandEMG
activitiesinpatientswithspinalcord(C6)andupperthoracicspinalcordinjuries.Methods.Participantsofthepresentstudy
werethepatientsdiagnosedwithASIAAorB.Thepatientsweredividedintotwogroupsaccordingtotheirspinalcord
injuries:C6groupandT2-T6group.Thelevelofthedeskwassetat5cmbelowtheelbow,attheelbowlevel,and5cmabove
theelbowlevel.ElectromyographywasusedtomeasurethedurationoftypingtaskEMG(%RVC)ofthecervicalerectorspinae,
uppertrapezius,anteriordeltoid,andwristextensor.Subjectivemusculoskeletaldiscomfort(Borg-RPE)wasmeasuredatthe
endoftheexperiment.Results.ThetwogroupsshoweddifferencesintermsofRPEcorrespondingtoeachlevelofthecomputer
desk(p<05).PostanalysisrevealedtheC6grouphaddecreasedRPEasthelevelofcomputerdeskincreased,whereasthe
subjectsintheT2-T6grouphaddecreasedRPEvaluesinaccordancewiththedecreasinglevelofcomputerdesk(p<05).In
EMG,bothgroupshadnosignificantdifferences(p>05).However,intermsoftheinteractionbetweenthemusclesandthe
levelofcomputerdeskinbothgroups,thedifferencesintheinteractionsoftheuppertrapeziusandwristextensorwitheach
levelofthedeskwerefound(p<05).Conclusion.Thisstudyismeaningfulinthatitconfirmscomputerworkpostureand
preferenceofspinalcord-injuredindividuals
Keywords :
Computer Desk Level , Musculoskeletal Discomfort , Neck and Upper Extremities , EMG Activities , Patients , Spinal Cord Injuries
Journal title :
Occupational Therapy International
