The effect of alternative keyboards on discomfort and typing kinematics

替代键盘对不适和打字运动学的影响

• 批准号: 7313709
• 负责人: NANCY A BAKER
• 金额: $ 21.87万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-09-01 至 2011-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7313709
• 关键词: effect; alternative; keyboards; discomfort; typing

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Awkward postures during computer keyboard use have been hypothesized to be one cause of musculoskeletal pain/discomfort as well as musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity (MSD-UE). Alternative computer keyboards purport to reduce musculoskeletal pain/discomfort and have been shown to change aspects of keyboard users' kinematics under laboratory conditions. However, research that has examined the effectiveness of alternative keyboards in reducing musculoskeletal pain/discomfort in the workplace is equivocal, and no study has examined the association between changes in kinematics and changes in musculoskeletal pain/discomfort. The Aims of this 3-year prospective double cross-over trial are: 1) to examine the effects of the long-term use of two alternative keyboards on changes in reports of musculoskeletal pain/discomfort and kinematics in comparison to a standard keyboard; 2) to identify which postures and other kinematics variables are associatied with reductions in musculoskeletal pain/discomfort. Seventy-five computer users will be randomly assigned to one of three keyboard use orders: Group 1 - ABC (standard keyboard, fixed angle keyboard, adjustable angle keyboard); Group 2 - BCA (fixed angle keyboard, adjustable angle keyboard, standard keyboard); or Group 3 - CAB (adjustable angle keyboard, standard keyboard, fixed angle keyboard). All subjects will use their assigned keyboards for 4-months before switching to the next keyboard. Every week, subjects will report their musculoskeletal discomfort levels. Just prior to and just after each 4-month intervention subjects' kinematics performances on the keyboards will be recorded in a laboratory setting using 3-dimensional motion capture technology. Relevance: Given the lack of research on alternative keyboards, we cannot determine: 1) whether the implementation of alternative keyboards causes a long term change in keyboarding kinematics; or 2) whether the implementation of alternative keyboards causes a reduction in musculoskeletal pain/discomfort. Without the answers to these questions, we can not adequately judge whether alternative keyboards actual reduce musculoskeletal pain/discomfort or prevent MSD-UE, as is being advertised to the public. The effectiveness of alternative keyboards must be verified to ensure that they are providing interventions that will reduce musculoskeletal pain/discomfort and potentially prevent MSD-UE.

描述（由申请人提供）：假设在计算机键盘使用过程中，尴尬的姿势已被认为是肌肉骨骼疼痛/不适以及上肢（MSD-EU）的肌肉骨骼疾病的原因之一。替代计算机键盘旨在减轻肌肉骨骼疼痛/不适，并已被证明会在实验室条件下改变键盘用户的运动学方面。然而，研究了替代键盘在减轻工作场所肌肉骨骼疼痛/不适的有效性是模棱两可的，并且没有研究检查运动学变化与肌肉骨骼疼痛/不适的变化之间的关联。这项为期三年的前瞻性双交叉试验的目的是：1）研究与标准键盘相比，长期使用两个替代键盘对肌肉骨骼疼痛/不适和运动学的报告的变化的影响； 2）确定哪些姿势和其他运动学变量与肌肉骨骼疼痛/不适的减少相关。 75个计算机用户将被随机分配到三个键盘使用订单之一：第1组-ABC（标准键盘，固定角度键盘，可调角键盘）；第2组-BCA（固定角度键盘，可调角键盘，标准键盘）；或第3组 - 驾驶室（可调角键盘，标准键盘，固定角度键盘）。所有受试者将在切换到下一个键盘之前将其分配的键盘用于4个月。每周，受试者都会报告其肌肉骨骼不适水平。在每个为期4个月的干预对象在键盘上的运动学表演之前和之后，都将使用3维运动捕获技术记录在实验室环境中。相关性：鉴于缺乏替代键盘的研究，我们无法确定：1）替代键盘的实施是否会导致键盘运动学的长期变化；或2）实施替代键盘是否会导致肌肉骨骼疼痛/不适的减轻。没有这些问题的答案，我们将无法充分判断替代键盘实际减少肌肉骨骼疼痛/不适或防止MSD-EU，就像向公众宣传一样。必须验证替代键盘的有效性，以确保它们提供干预措施，以减轻肌肉骨骼疼痛/不适，并有可能阻止MSD-EU。