title: The effect of walking while typing on neck/shoulder patterns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This project aimed to quantify the effects of modifying computer work posture on neck/shoulder patterns during a prolonged typing task.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty healthy participants completed a 90-min typing task while sitting or walking on a treadmill. Electromyography (EMG) was recorded from eight upper body muscles and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) from two upper body sites. Effects of Time and Posture were assessed for EMG amplitude (RMS), variability (CoV), normalized mutual information (NMI), LDF and upper limb discomfort.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Upper limb discomfort was higher during sitting and increased with time, from 0.86 ± 1.3 to 3.7 ± 3.1 out of 10. Interaction effects showed that EMG amplitude decreased over time for the lumbar erector spinae (LES) (from 6.3 ± 2.9 to 5.6 ± 3.2 % MIVC) and wrist extensor (from 12.4 ± 2.7 to 11.3 ± 3.5 % MIVC) during walking, but increased during sitting. Anterior Deltoid EMG amplitude was 64 % lower during walking while External Oblique EMG amplitude (43 %) and Lower Trapezius EMG variability (65 %) were higher during walking. Interaction effects showed higher LES CoV during walking compared to sitting (p = 0.019) in the beginning but not at the end of the task, and higher neck/shoulder NMI (p = 0.050) towards the end of the task during sitting compared to walking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that walking while performing computer work may be effective in inducing healthier muscular patterns, possibly explaining the lower level of discomfort compared to sitting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, 475 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, QC, H2W 1S4, Canada, larissa.fedorowich@mail.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Larissa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fedorowich
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.forename: Julie N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Côté
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D009333:Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012782:Shoulder / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D014953:Wrist / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
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