Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5143/JESK.2013.32.3.273

The Study of Muscle Fatigue and Risks of Musculoskeletal System Disorders from Text Inputting on a Smartphone  

Ko, Kyung (Department of Physical Therapy, Gangnam-Gu Health Center)
Kim, Hee-Soo (Department of Occupational Therapy, Hallym Medical Center)
Woo, Ji-Hea (Department of Physical Therapy, Hallym College)
Publication Information
Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea / v.32, no.3, 2013 , pp. 273-278 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to analyze and evaluate fatigue in upper trapezius muscles of adults when inputting text on a smart phone, thereby examining the risk of cumulative trauma disorders in the musculoskeletal system of the upper extremity. Method: Forty-five healthy adults were divided equally into three groups: a smartphone group, a notebook group, and a desktop group. A surface electromyogram was placed on the upper trapezius muscle of each participant, after which they inputted text for ten minutes within an ergonomic setting; their side posture was recorded on video and analyzed. Results: The spectral edge frequency values for the smartphone group, as recorded from the upper right trapezius muscles on the surface electromyogram, showed a significant decrease(p<.05). Regarding the RULA, all three groups had results indicating "action level 2". Conclusion: All three groups had results indicating "action level 2" according to the RULA, which means that additional research on the posture of the participants while performing tasks is necessary, and their posture needs to be corrected. In particular, the smartphone group has the highest levels of fatigue in the upper trapezius muscles, suggesting that the task of inputting text on a smartphone is a high risk for causing cumulative trauma disorders.
Keywords
Muscle fatigue Smart phone; RULA; Video display terminal(VDT) syndrome;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 6  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Cha, Bong-suk, Ko, Sang-Baek, Chang, Sei-Jin & Park, Chang-Sik, A study on the Relationship between Subjective Symptoms Status of VDT Operators, Korean J Occup Environ Med, 8(3), 403-13, 1996.
2 Cho, W.H. Lee, W.Y. & Choi, H.K., An Investigation on the Biomechanical Effects of Turtle Neck Syndrome, Korean Society for Precision Engineering, 195-196, 2008.
3 Grace, P.Y. Szeto, Keith, S.W. Sham, The effects of angled positions of computer display screen on muscle activities of the neck-shoulder stabilizers, J Ergon, 38(1), 9-17, 2008.   DOI   ScienceOn
4 Hagg, G.M., Static work loads and occupational myalgia - a new explanation model, In: Anderson PA, Hobart DJ, Danoff JV, editors, Electromyogr kinesiol, Amsterdam: Elsevier Science, 141-143, 1991.
5 Han, Eun Kyung & Kim, Jwa Joong, A Study on Smartphone User's Motives to Use Mobile Advertisements and their Satisfaction: Based on the Use and Gratification Theory, Cybercommunication Academic Society, 28(1), 165-201, 2011.
6 Kim, B.K., Park, H.W., Yim, H.W., Koo, J.W. & Lee, K.S., Selection of a High Risk Groups and the Effectiveness of an Exercise Program on Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Small and Medium Sised Enterprises, Korean J Occup Environ Med, 17(1), 10-25, 2005.
7 Kim, Dae Sung, Bae, Sun Duk, Mun, Byung Kuk & Kim, Cheol Hong, Criteria for classification of flection angle for the assessments of posture by observation methods, Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea, 330-335, 2007.
8 Kim, Jong Eun, Kang, Dong Muk, Shin, Yong Chul, Son, Mi A, Kim, Jung Won, Ahn, Jin Hong, Kim, Young Ki & Moon, Deog Hwan, Risk Factors of Work-related Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Shipyard Workers, Korean J Occup Environ Med, 15(4), 401-10, 2003.
9 Kim, Young Min, Effects of Use of the Hold Relax Technique to Treat Female VDT Workers with Work-related Neck-shoulder Complaints, Korean J Occup Environ Med, 21(1); 18-27, 2009.   과학기술학회마을
10 Kim, Yu Chang & Lee, Jun Pal, A Study on the Short Break Time on VDT Work using EMG, Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea, 26(4), 41-47, 2007.   과학기술학회마을   DOI   ScienceOn
11 Korean Standards Association, Ergonomics of design and use of visual display terminals(VDTs) in offices, Specifications for VDT workstations, 1991.
12 L. Straker, R. C. Pollock, Burgess-Limerick, R. Skoss, J. Coleman, The impact of computor display height and design on muscle activity during information technology work by young adults, J Electromyogr kinesiol, 18(2), 606-617, 2008. Ministry of Employment and Labor, Amendent   DOI   ScienceOn
13 Ministry of Employment and Labor, Amendent 20 September 2009, Mol Public Notice No. 2009-38.
14 Pheasante. S, Ergonomics, Work and Health, 245, 1991.
15 Park, Hee Sok, Lee, Yun Keun & Ok, Dong Min, Comparison of Ministry of Labor Notification for VDT Work Management and KS A/ISO 9241, Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea, 28(4), 109-115, 2009.   과학기술학회마을   DOI   ScienceOn
16 Park, Ill, Yim, Hyeon Woo, Koo, Jung-Wan & Lee, Kang Sook, Selection of High Risk Group and the Effectiveness of Exercise Program on Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, Korean J Occup Environ Med, 17(1), 10-25, 2005.   과학기술학회마을
17 Paul and Douwes, Two-dimensional photographic posture recording and description, a validity study, Applied Ergonomics, 24(2), 83-90, 1993.   DOI   ScienceOn
18 Robertson, M., Amick, B.C., Hupert, N., Pellerin-Dionne, M., Cha, Sanghyuk Yim, Park, Heesok & Kim, Hyunwook, Assessing Muscle Tensions During VDT Works with Surface Electromyography, Korean J Occup Environ Med, 12(4), 524-536, 2000.
19 Ryu, Taebeum, Reliability and performance analysis of preferred hand in smart phone text entry using one hand, Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea, 213-218, 2010.
20 Shin, Gwanseob & Zhu, Xinhui, Users discomfort, work posture and muscle activity while using a toutchscreen in a desktop PC setting, Ergonomics, 54(8), 733-744, 2011.   DOI   ScienceOn
21 Sim, Mi Jung & Lee, Young Sook, A study on the VDT syndrome and relating work factors of office workers, Journal of Korea society for Health Education and Promotion, 25(3), 95-109, 2008.   과학기술학회마을
22 WHO, Bergqvist, Ulf O. V., Knave, Bengt. Visual display terminals and worker's health, World Health Organ, 1987.
23 Yoo, Won-gyu, Yi, Chung-hwi & Kim, Min-hee, of proxinity-sensing Feedback chair on Head, Shoulder, and Trunk Postures When working at a Visual Display Terminal, J Occup Rehabil, 16(4), 631-637, 2006.   DOI   ScienceOn
24 Yang, Young-Ae, Kim, Young-Hee, Kim, Yong-Kwon, Hur, Jin-Gang, Song, Jae-Cheol & Kim, Yoon-Shin, Effects of Thoracic Spinal Exercise Program in VDT Workers: Pain Relief and Increased Flexibility, Korean J Occup Environ Med, 16(3), 250-261, 2004.   과학기술학회마을