title: The impact of mobile data terminal use on posture and low-back discomfort when combined with simulated prolonged driving in police cruisers.
abstract: The introduction of mobile computing within a constrained vehicle environment has led to changes in the task demands of occupational groups such as professional drivers and law enforcement officers. The purpose of this study was to examine how mobile data terminal (MDT) use interacts with prolonged driving to induce postural changes or low-back discomfort. Eighteen participants (9 male, 9 female) completed two 120-min simulated driving sessions. Time-varying lumbar spine and pelvis postures, seat pan interface pressures and ratings of perceived discomfort were recorded at 15-min intervals. The introduction of a computer interface decreased pelvic posterior rotation by an average of 15° with respect to upright standing and increased peak average discomfort in the neck (5.9 mm), left shoulder (6.8 mm), midback (10.9 mm), low back (10.6 mm) and pelvis (11.5 mm) compared to driving alone. The incorporation of mobile computing warrants consideration in the design of vehicle work environments.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Kristina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gruevski
authors.forename: Colin D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: McKinnon
authors.forename: Clark R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.forename: Jack P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Callaghan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D016288:Computer Terminals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010388:Pelvis / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult