The Effect of Alternative Keyboards on Discomfort and Typing Kinematics
Awkward postures during computer keyboard use have been hypothesized to be one cause of musculoskeletal pain/discomfort as well as musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity (MSD-UE). Alternative computer keyboards purport to reduce musculoskeletal pain/discomfort and have been shown to change aspects of keyboard users' kinematics under laboratory conditions. However, research that has examined the effectiveness of alternative keyboards in reducing musculoskeletal pain/discomfort in the workplace is equivocal, and no study has examined the association between postures and musculoskeletal pain. The Aims of this 3-year prospective double cross-over trial are: 1) To examine the effectiveness of an alternative keyboard in reducing reports of pain over 6-months; 2) To examine the neutrality and stability of postures during keyboard use; and 3) To identify which postures are associated with lower levels of musculoskeletal pain. Seventy-five computer users will be randomly assigned to one of two keyboard use orders: Group 1 - AB (standard keyboard, alternative keyboard); Group 2 - BA (alternative keyboard, standard keyboard). All subjects will use their assigned keyboards for 6-months before switching to the next keyboard. Every week, subjects will report their musculoskeletal pain levels. Just prior to and just after each 6-month intervention subjects' kinematics performances on the keyboards will be recorded at the worksite using the Keyboard - Personal Computing Style (K-PeCS) instrument and in a laboratory setting using 3-dimensional motion capture technology.
Aim 1: To examine the effectiveness of an alternative keyboard in reducing pain over 6-months.
Hypothesis 1 (H-1) - At six months subjects using an alternative keyboard will have significantly lower musculoskeletal pain levels than when using a standard keyboard.
Aim 2: To examine the neutrality and stability of postures during keyboard use.
Hypothesis 3 (H-2) - Subjects using an alternative keyboard will have significantly more neutral postures than when using a standard keyboard at baseline and at 6 months Hypothesis 3 (H-3) - Subjects 6-months keyboarding postures will remain equivalent to the keyboarding postures documented at baseline.
研究概览
研究类型
注册 (实际的)
阶段
- 不适用
联系人和位置
学习地点
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Pennsylvania
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Pittsburgh、Pennsylvania、美国、15260
- University of Pittsburgh
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参与标准
资格标准
适合学习的年龄
接受健康志愿者
有资格学习的性别
描述
Inclusion Criteria:
- Use a computer at least 20 hrs per week
- Aged 18-65
- Experiencing some pain during computer use
Exclusion Criteria:
- Currently use an alternative keyboard
- Serious trauma injury to the upper extremity
- Rheumatic disorder
学习计划
研究是如何设计的?
设计细节
- 主要用途:预防
- 分配:随机化
- 介入模型:交叉作业
- 屏蔽:无(打开标签)
武器和干预
参与者组/臂 |
干预/治疗 |
---|---|
实验性的:A
Subject receives typical keyboard first for 6 months and alternative keyboard second for 6 months
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Subjects use either a typical or alternative keyboard
其他名称:
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实验性的:B
Subject receives alternative keyboard first for 6 months and typical keyboard second for 6 months
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Subjects use either a typical or alternative keyboard
其他名称:
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研究衡量的是什么?
主要结果指标
结果测量 |
措施说明 |
大体时间 |
---|---|---|
Musculoskeletal Discomfort
大体时间:6 months and 12 months
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Discomfort Survey (WDS) was used to assess symptoms and activity limitations. Participants reported on their work schedule, medication used for pain control, and discomfort in their neck/shoulder, back, and bilateral lower arms (elbows, forearms, wrists, and hands) using an 11-point numerical rating scale (0 = no discomfort/no limitations; 10 = unbearable discomfort/major limitations). We had to dichotomize the data during analysis due to severe skew towards not discomfort (0). Thus the final outcome was discomfort -yes or no |
6 months and 12 months
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合作者和调查者
研究记录日期
研究主要日期
学习开始
初级完成 (实际的)
研究完成 (实际的)
研究注册日期
首次提交
首先提交符合 QC 标准的
首次发布 (估计)
研究记录更新
最后更新发布 (估计)
上次提交的符合 QC 标准的更新
最后验证
更多信息
与本研究相关的术语
其他研究编号
- 08030467
- R01OH008961 (美国 NIH 拨款/合同)
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