Effects of a proximity-sensing feedback chair on head, shoulder, and trunk postures when working at a visual display terminal.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to identify the effects of feedback from a proximity-sensing chair on head, shoulder, and trunk postures when working at a visual display terminal (VDT).


METHODS
Twenty healthy adults were asked to perform VDT work, and their forward head, forward shoulder, and trunk flexion angles were analyzed using a 3-D motion analysis system. The statistical significance of differences between without and with an auditory feedback device was tested by paired t-tests, with the significance cutoff set at alpha=0.05.


RESULTS
The forward head, forward shoulder, and trunk flexion angles significantly decreased during VDT work when using the proximity sensor with auditory feedback.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that a feedback device promotes the adoption of beneficial postures, which may be effective in preventing VDT-work-related neck and upper-limb disorders.
Yoo
Won-gyu
WG
Department of Rehabilitation Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752 Republic of Korea. won@yonsei.ac.kr
Yi
Chung-hwi
CH
Kim
Min-hee
MH
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016288:Computer Terminals; D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011187:Posture; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted