Workplace use of an adjustable keyboard: adjustment preferences and effect on wrist posture.
This study presents an evaluation of an adjustable keyboard based on subjective preference and wrist joint motion during typing. Thirty-five computer users used the adjustable split design keyboard for 7-14 days during their usual work and were instructed to adjust the keyboard to the opening angle they preferred. At the end of this period, three-dimensional motion analysis was performed to compare the distribution of wrist joint angles while subjects typed on a conventional keyboard and the adjustable keyboard adjusted to the subject's preferred angle. The mean preferred opening angle was 14 degrees +/- 10. The mean ulnar deviation of the subjects who selected the opening angles between 21 and 28 degrees (n = 12) decreased from 18 degrees +/- 5 on the flat to 14 degrees +/- 5 on the adjustable (p < 0.05), while those who selected 0 to 10 degrees (n = 6) and 11 to 20 degrees (n = 17) split angles showed no significant differences in ulnar deviation. Mean wrist extension on the adjustable keyboard was 17 degrees +/- 5 and was significantly less than the 24 degrees +/- 5 observed on the conventional keyboard and most likely due to the presence of palm support. On average, subjects reported that the adjustable keyboard was more comfortable (0.5 +/- 0.5) (worse = -1, same = 0, better, = 1) in comparison with the conventional keyboard.
Tittiranonda
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P
Interdisciplinary Ergonomics Program, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California 94550, USA.
Rempel
D
D
Armstrong
T
T
Burastero
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016287:Computer Peripherals; D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011187:Posture; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014953:Wrist / Q000502:physiology*