title: The Impact of Ergonomically Designed Workstations on Shoulder EMG Activity during Carpet Weaving.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to evaluate the biomechanical exposure to the trapezius muscle activity in female weavers for a prolonged period in the workstation A (suggested by previous studies) and workstation B (proposed by the present study).
  
  
  METHODS
  Electromyography data were collected from nine females during four hours for each ergonomically designed workstation at the Ergonomics Laboratory, Hamadan, Iran. The design criteria for ergonomically designed workstations were: 1) weaving height (20 and 3 cm above elbow height for workstations A and B, respectively), and 2) seat type (10° and 0° forwardsloping seat for workstations A and B, respectively).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amplitude probability distribution function (APDF) analysis showed that the left and right upper trapezius muscle activity was almost similar at each workstation. Trapezius muscle activity in the workstation A was signifi-cantly greater than workstations B (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In general, use of workstation B leads to significantly reduced muscle activity levels in the upper trapezius as compared to workstation A in weavers. Despite the positive impact of workstation B in reducing trapezius muscle activity, it seems that constrained postures of the upper arm during weaving may be associated with musculoskeletal symptoms.
authors: Ergonomics Department, Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors: Majid
authors: M
authors: Motamedzade
authors: Department of Occupational Health, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors: Davood
authors: D
authors: Afshari
authors: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Research Institute of Behavioral Disorder and Substance Abuse, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Soltanian
keywords: EMG Surface; Musculoskeletal disorders; Workload; Workstation
references: Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1993;67(5):467-75
references: 8299620
references: J Hum Ergol (Tokyo). 1982 Sep;11(1):73-88
references: 7186516
references: Appl Ergon. 2007 Sep;38(5):617-24
references: 16999930
references: J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2000 Apr;10(2):103-15
references: 10699558
references: Appl Ergon. 2014 Mar;45(2):278-84
references: 23706293
references: Ergonomics. 2011 Sep;54(9):849-57
references: 21943119
references: Ergonomics. 2012;55(2):229-36
references: 21846289
references: Scand J Work Environ Health. 1998 Oct;24(5):418-24
references: 9869314
references: Ergonomics. 1988 Jun;31(6):915-33
references: 3168997
references: Health Promot Perspect. 2012 Dec 28;2(2):265-73
references: 24688943
references: Appl Ergon. 1991 Aug;22(4):251-7
references: 15676820
references: Eur J Appl Physiol. 2002 Jul;87(3):257-63
references: 12111287
references: Work. 2015 Jan 1;50(2):241-8
references: 24004757