The Effect on the Tension Trapezius Muscle of the Height Keyboard Computer

작업대 높이가 승모근의 근긴장도에 미치는 영향

Purpose: Many kinds of musculoskeletal disease and symptom are caused by the longtime computer works. However, trapezius muscle tonus has not been established in regarding to keyboard height during typing. Therefore, this study is to evaluate the relationship between trapezius muscle tonus and the height of keyboard while typing, controling for the postures of neck, Lumbar, cervical vertebra. Methods: The experimental height of keyboard was set at elbow height, 3cm higher, 6cm higher, 9cm higher, than elbow. We studied trapezius tonus with the mean value for 2 minutes by EMG in 15 males and 15 females worker of hospital in seoul, who did not have a history of muscle disease, neurological signs, nerve damage. Results: In this experimental, as the height of the keyboard went up, the trapezius tonus significantly increased with shoulder abduction of brachium. Second, right and left trapezius tonus appeared similar while typing. Third, the best height that release the trapezius tonus the was as high as elbow and 3cm higher than elbow. Conclusion: With these above results, we suggest that the appropriate height of keyboard during typing to release the trapezius tonus most is the height of the elbow and 3cm higher than elbow. The study has important implications for focusing on the height of VDT worktable and complaining of a pain by oneself which are useful to establish a method of prevention of musculoskeletal disorder in work in the future.