• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2012

Purpose: In this study, the effect of the eye movement direction on visual function related to accommodation was investigated when playing computer games for a certain period of time. Methods: Total 60 subjects in 20s who had the visual acuity of 1.0 or higher without any ocular disease and accommodative dysfunction were asked to play computer games separately in horizontal and vertical directions for 40 and 90 minutes and then measured their accommodative amplitude, accommodative facility, accommodative lag and relative accommodations. Thevisual function when not doing the computer game was regarded as a control value, and further compared and analyzed. Results: The accommodative amplitude, accommodative facility, accommodative lag and relative accommodations showed the tendency of decrease after the computer game for 40 minutes, and more reduced values of the visual functions were shown when the computer game extended up to 90 minutes except positive relative accommodation. Positive relative accommodation had a tendency to increase slightly after the computer game for 90 minutes. Meanwhile, the change of the visual functions was primarily influenced by the eye movement in horizontal direction rather than by the eye movement in vertical direction during computer game when analyzed by the direction of eye movement. Conclusions: Over all accommodative functions tended to decrease with the extended VDT working time by computer game, and the frequent eye movement in horizontal direction during VDT tasks could be the main cause of eyestrain since the eye movement in horizontal direction rather than vertical direction significantly affected the change of accommodative function.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 1990

Effectiveness of physical exercise in reducing work-related musculoskeletal stress was investigated. This was compared to the stress alleviation accomplished by using ergonomically designed work station. Tasks chosen for the study were data entry and file maintenance on the video display terminal (VDT). Three different measures, namely root-mean-square (RMS) values of electromyogram (EMG), subjective rating and task performance were used for the evaluation. Electromyograms were recorded from the neck, the left and right trapezius muscles in the shoulder region, and L2/L3 region of the back. Subjects rated discomfort levels for the same parts of their body. Task performance was measured by recording typing speed and errors. Each of the five subjects was tested for two days (8 hours/day) in two different work stations. These were the ergonomically designed adjustable work station and the fixed work station of traditional design with no adjustable features. Assigned physical exercises were performed for four minutes, every two hours during the breaks, by the subjects while working in the fixed work station. It was concluded that the physical exercise could be helpful in reducing musculoskeletal stress as effectively as the ergonomic design of the VDT work station.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to determine whether there are differences in hand muscle activities (APB : abductor pollicis brevis, ED : extensor digitorum, ECU : extensor carpi ulnaris, and EI : extensor indicis) and subjective discomfort according to the three mouse sizes (small, medium, large) and two task types (pointing and scrolling). The mouse size and task type showed significant interaction effects on the total NEMG (p = 0.004) and on the NEMG of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle (p = 0.001). The total NEMG and the NEMG of APB showed the highest value in the 'scrolling' task using the 'small' mouse. However, the NEMG of the EI was different according to the mouse size, and the 'small' mouse showed the lowest value. The subjective discomfort was the lowest in the 'medium' mouse, and all nine subjects preferred the 'medium' size. The hand-size related anthropometric variables showed different correlations according to the task type and mouse size with the NEMGs and subjective discomfort. The results of this study could be used as a basic information for the determination of the proper mouse size according to the hand size.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2006

In spite of the rapid increase of computer use in our everyday life, not much effort is undertaken to take measures to prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders(MSDs). In this paper, we suggest a movable armrest which would lower the exposure to the MSDs, especially on the vicinity of arm. The aim of this study is to determine whether there are differences in wrist angle variations, forearm muscular loads, comfort and normal performance between the invented movable armrest and a conventional armrest when using a computer mouse. Eight experienced VDU workers performed a standardized simple task set which consists of 15 detailed tasks with each armrest. The wrist angle variations in the right arm were registered by electrogoniometer and the muscle activities in the shoulder, deltoid and two extensors in the forearm were also registered by electromyograph. The subjects rated perceived comfort while performing the tasks with each armrest. Working with the invented armrest, compared to general, gave significantly decreased wrist angle variations at most of the detailed tasks of both biaxial movements. Moreover, as the distance of targets increased, the difference of muscle activities in two different situations trend to be increasing. At the same time, in work with invented armrest, the subjects rated more comfort and they showed decreased normal performances in 8 detailed tasks which were mainly caused by macro moving time.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Objective: This study identifies the difference among the heights of a chair's backrest (High, Mid, No), the biomechanical changes chair users undergo over time, and the variables that can measure musculoskeletal disorders, eventually providing information on the appropriate type of backrest. Method: Eleven healthy subjects in their 20s and 30s who had no experience with musculoskeletal disorders or surgical operations within the last 6 months participated in this study. Computer typing tasks were randomly designated and performed according to the type of chair backrest, and evaluation was performed for Flexion-Relaxation Ratio (FRR) analysis after the computer typing tasks. This study used eight infrared cameras (sampling rate: 100 Hz) and nine-channel electromyography (sampling rate: 1,000 Hz). ANOVA with repeated measures was conducted to verify the results, with the statistical significance level being α = .05. Results: Although there was no significant difference in craniovertebral angle (CVA), this study showed time and interaction effects depending on the height of the backrest (p<.05). When working without the backrest, the head-spine angle was lower compared to the chairs with backrest, based on the computer work. As for the head angle, the higher the back of the chair was, the less the head flexion and the body angle became, whereas the body flexion became less when there was a backrest. In addition, the body flexion increased over time in all types of backrests (p<.05). The muscle activity of the upper body tended to be high in the high backrest chair. On the other hand, a lower muscle activity was found with a low backrest. Conclusion: These results show that a chair is more ergonomic when the body angle is correctly set without bending and when it is supported by a low backrest. Accordingly, this study determines that the backrest affects shoulder and neck musculoskeletal disorders during typing and that medium-height backrest chairs can help prevent musculoskeletal disorders, contrary to the expectation that high-backrest chairs are preferable.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.18-26
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• 2018

This study aimed to examine whether there was difference on visual fatigue between active seniors and young people, and to provide a guideline for appropriate computer use time for seniors. Blinking rate, maximal blinking interval, temperature of the ocular surface, visual fatigue questionnare were evaluated. The blinking rate, ocular surface temperature, visual fatigue showed significant change before and after the tasks. There was no difference between the two groups and thus, about 30-minute computer work appeared to be appropriate for seniors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.41-47
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• 2016

PURPOSE: Forward head posture (FHP) is one of the most common postural problems among white-collar workers who perform highly repetitive tasks in the same position. The aim of this study was to research the effects of thoracic and lumbar support fixtures on forward head posture (FHP) during visual display terminal (VDT) work. METHODS: The subjects were 36 healthy male students with no problems in their medical history or respiratory systems. The subjects were randomly assigned to three groups: control group (n=12), thoracic support fixtures (n=12), and lumbar support fixtures (n=12). We conducted a text typing task of the same content for 20 minutes, and evaluated the angles, including the craniovertebra angle (CVA), craniorotation angle (CRA) with photogrammetry. RESULTS: The thoracic and lumbar support fixture groups showed a statistically significant difference at the CVA and CRA to the control group (p<.05), and the post-hoc test showed an increase of the CVA and decrease of the CRA than the control group. However, when we compared the effects of thoracic and lumbar support fixtures on FHP, there was no significant difference in the difference in decrease of the CVA or increase of the CRA (p>.05). CONCLUSION: We determined that VDT work using thoracic and lumbar support fixtures has a positive effect on forward head posture in white-collar workers. Further studies are required to find the more effective location of support fixtures.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.273-278
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• 2013

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.