Investigation of Predictors of Typing Performance in Office Employees With Neck Pain

April 6, 2022 updated by: Arzu Keskin Aktan, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University

The Predictors of Typing Performance in Office Employees With Neck Pain; Neck Disability, Muscle Activity, Posture, and Demographics

Determining the predictors that are effective on work performance and preventive approaches to be developed for these predictors must be individual and adaptable to every environment, time, and equipment. In this context, the purpose of the present study was to show the relations between neck disability, Upper Trapezius (UT) muscle activation, posture, and demographic characteristics with typing task performance in office employees who have neck pain by using their equipment in their workplaces.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Detailed Description

The present study was conducted to show the relations between neck disability, UT muscle activation, posture, and demographic characteristics with typing task performance in office employees who have neck pain by using their equipment in their workplaces. We hypothesized that UT muscle activation, working posture, and age might be the main predictors of typing performance in office employees with neck pain. For this purpose, full-time office employees who use computers for at least 3 hours a day and have neck pain were invited to the study. Volunteers without any health concern, upper-body injury, and surgery provided informed, written consent to participate in the study.

The participants were given a 10-minute typing task in their working environments, during which right and left UT muscle activation was recorded with Surface Electromyography (sEMG). Work posture was evaluated with Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Forward Head Posture (FHP) was evaluated with Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) Device. Hierarchical Regression Analysis was conducted to examine the predictors of typing performance.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

21

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, 03030
        • Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

22 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Office workers with neck pain, the sample of the study, were selected from among the people living in Istanbul with the invitation to volunteer.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Full-time and regular employees in the last 1 year,
  • Office employees use computers at desk for at least 3 hours per day
  • According to RULA, working in a posture that is above the acceptable level,
  • No trauma history
  • Non-specific neck pain but no chronic conditions of the cervical spine and upper extremity

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Volunteer office employees with neck pain who did not meet the inclusion criteria and those who could not complete the study because of pain, discomfort, etc. were excluded from the study (Dropouts; n=3 because of pain and discomfort, n=1 because of incomplete evaluations not completed on their own will)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Office Employees Group
Office Employees with neck pain
Measurements and performance tests were conducted to investigate predictors of work-related performance

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Time Frame: 10 minutes
The NDI is a self-reported scale consists of pain intensity, personal care, lifting, reading, headache, concentration, work, driving, sleeping and leisure time activities sections. The total score varies between 0-50 and the increase in total score indicates the increase in the severity of the neck disability: "0-4 no disability, 5-14 mild disability, 15-24 moderate disability, 25-34 severe disability, and ≥35 complete disability".
10 minutes
Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC)
Time Frame: 10 minutes
It is measured by Surface Electromyography (sEMG) for upper trapezius muscle. 3 maximum contractions were performed for 6 seconds at the manual muscle testing position. The maximum value among 3 repeats was recorded as Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC) (mV).
10 minutes
Muscle Activation of Upper Trapezius
Time Frame: 30 minutes
It is the measurement of the Electromyographic activity of trapezius muscles during typing task. According to The Surface ElectroMyoGraphy for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles Project (SENIAM) recommendations for sensors and sensor placement procedures, sEMG was applied for the upper trapezius muscles while performing the computer task in workplace. The mean values (mV) obtained were normalized according to MVIC. Normalized data (%MVIC) was used in the statistical analysis.
30 minutes
Forward Head Posture
Time Frame: 10 minutes
The CROM Deluxe is an assessment instrument that lets to measure sagittal, frontal and horizontal plane movements (flexion / extension, lateral flexion, rotation and forward head posture), while resting and also performing a task or work posture.
10 minutes
Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA)
Time Frame: 10 minutes
The RULA Assessment Tool is used to evaluate the ergonomic risk factors associated with neck, trunk, and upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The RULA considers biomechanical and postural load requirements of job demands. Scores between 1-7 are classified from "acceptable posture" (no action required) to "very high risk" (implement change now).
10 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Time Frame: 1 minutes
Body mass index (BMI) is a measurement derived from body mass and body height to evaluate body fat. The BMI is defined as the body mass divided by the square of the body height and is expressed in units of kg/m² (kilogram / square meter). According to the BMI value, it is categorized as underweight (<18.5), normal weight (18.5-24.9), overweight (25-29.9), and Obesity (30 or greater).
1 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Arzu Keskin Aktan, PhD, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University
  • Principal Investigator: Nilufer Keskin Dilbay, MSc, Marmara University
  • Study Director: Zafer Erden, PhD, Prof, Hacettepe University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

September 20, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 22, 2021

Study Completion (Actual)

February 11, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 29, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 6, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

April 7, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 7, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 6, 2022

Last Verified

April 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

There is no plan to make IPD available.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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