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    The Effects of Ergonomic Interventions

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    Arun Krishnan
    An ergonomic intervention program was implemented that included workstation setup, education on rest breaks and exercises, and use of a computer program to prompt stretches every 60 minutes. 43 participants completed pre- and post-study questionnaires and had their workstations analyzed. The results showed that the program significantly reduced pain but did not significantly impact sick days. Participants found workstation modifications the most valuable but compliance declined over 12 weeks for the computer stretch prompting program. Overall, the study demonstrated that a multi-component ergonomic program can help reduce musculoskeletal pain in computer users.

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    The Effects of Ergonomic Interventions

    Uploaded by

    Arun Krishnan
    26 views11 pages
    An ergonomic intervention program was implemented that included workstation setup, education on rest breaks and exercises, and use of a computer program to prompt stretches every 60 minutes. 43 participants completed pre- and post-study questionnaires and had their workstations analyzed. The results showed that the program significantly reduced pain but did not significantly impact sick days. Participants found workstation modifications the most valuable but compliance declined over 12 weeks for the computer stretch prompting program. Overall, the study demonstrated that a multi-component ergonomic program can help reduce musculoskeletal pain in computer users.

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    Rues_ErgonomicInterventions

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    An ergonomic intervention program was implemented that included workstation setup, education on rest breaks and exercises, and use of a computer program to prompt stretches every 60 minutes. 43 participants completed pre- and post-study questionnaires and had their workstations analyzed. The results showed that the program significantly reduced pain but did not significantly impact sick days. Participants found workstation modifications the most valuable but compliance declined over 12 weeks for the computer stretch prompting program. Overall, the study demonstrated that a multi-component ergonomic program can help reduce musculoskeletal pain in computer users.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    26 views11 pages

    The Effects of Ergonomic Interventions

    Uploaded by

    Arun Krishnan
    An ergonomic intervention program was implemented that included workstation setup, education on rest breaks and exercises, and use of a computer program to prompt stretches every 60 minutes. 43 participants completed pre- and post-study questionnaires and had their workstations analyzed. The results showed that the program significantly reduced pain but did not significantly impact sick days. Participants found workstation modifications the most valuable but compliance declined over 12 weeks for the computer stretch prompting program. Overall, the study demonstrated that a multi-component ergonomic program can help reduce musculoskeletal pain in computer users.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 11

    The Effects of Ergonomic Interventions

    By: Melinda Montague, Elizabeth Schroeder,


    Malissa Shull, and Katie Wilcox

    Faculty Mentor: Jane Rues, EdD, OTR, FAOTA

    Department of Occupational Therapy Education


    Rockhurst University
    Kansas City, MO
    Previous Capstone Study (2003) By: Cara Gwartney, Christie Salszieder, and Stephanie Werner
    Purpose
     Does an ergonomic program that
    incorporates
    1.proper workstation setup
    2.rest break and exercise education
    3.daily exercise reminders executed by
    Stretch Break PRO computer
    program
     effect pain and sick days
    Other research questions
     Leading cause(s) of pain
     Pattern of errors in workstations
     Compliance with workstation
    modifications
     Participants’ satisfaction
     Utilization of Stretch Break
     Effectiveness of weekly survey
    Literature Review
     Omer, Ozcan, Karan and Ketenci (2003/2004)
    – Studied the effect of training and exercise programs in the
    management of cumulative trauma disorder (CTD).
    » Treatment group showed a statistically significant improvement
    in pain.
     Fenety and Walker (2002)
    – Compared the amount of movement before and after an
    exercise program.
    » Subjects who exercised had decreased in-chair movement and
    discomfort.
     Monsey et al. (2003)
    – Investigated strategies for improving compliance with a
    prevention program, the Stretch Break PRO.
    » Treatment group stretched more than the control group (NS)
    Methods: Subjects
     43 participants  Location
    – 38 females – 19 participants from
    – 5 males Rockhurst University
    – 24 participants from
    Lockton
     Ages
     Computer use
    – Ranged between 20-
    61+ – Mean 7-11 years
    – mean age group of – Mean 6-10
    26-30 hours/day
    – 50% rest breaks
    – 50% report fatigue
    Method: Procedure
    Assessment - Intervention
    Assessments Interventions
     Educational meeting  Computer
    workstation
     Pre-study
    modifications
    questionnaire  Stretch Break PRO
    program (Para
    Technologies, 2003)
     Computer – Program prompted
    workstation analysis stretches every 60
    minutes
    Results
    Does an ergonomic program that
    incorporates
    1. proper workstation setup,
    2. rest break and exercise education, and
    3. Stretch Break PRO computer program
     effect pain
    – significant p = .002
     sick days
    – non significant (NS)
    Results
     Leading cause(s) of pain  Compliance with
    – NS workstation
    modifications
     Effectiveness of weekly – Modifications made
    survey during the evaluation =
    – Weekly too frequent highest compliance
     Pattern of errors in  Participants’
    workstations satisfaction
    – 2 most frequent errors – Workstation
    » Foot position on floor modifications valued
    » Phoning postures most
     Utilization of Stretch
    Break
    – Decreasing trend over 12
    weeks
    Discussion
     Overall participants reported decreased pain
     Participants valued workstation modifications
    over the other two interventions and had
    greater compliance with modifications made
    versus those recommended.
     While participants verbalized liking and
    learning from the Stretch Break PRO
    computer program, the built in tracker did
    not show congruence between stated and
    actual behavior.
    Implications for Future Research
     Develop research questions relevant to each work
    place

     Educate both employers and employees

     Readily accessible ergonomic adaptations

     Weekly vs. monthly on-line surveys


    References
     American Occupational Therapy Association. (2004). Ergonomics: Occupational therapy in the workplace. workplace.
    Retrieved September 24, 2004, from www.aota.org.
    www.aota.org.
     Balance Systems, Inc. (n.d(n.d.).
    .). National statistics for carpal tunnel syndrome. Retrieved October 7, 2004, from
    http://www.repetitive-strain.com/national.html.
    http://www.repetitive-strain.com/national.html.
     Bayeh,
    Bayeh, A.D. & Smith, M.J. (2003). Do ergonomics improvements increase computer workers’ workers’ productivity?: An
    intervention study in a call centre. Ergonomics, 46, 46, 1-18.
     Ergonomics Today. (2004). Norwegian companies look to ergonomics to curb rising absenteeism. Retrieved
    October 28, 2004, from http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id
    http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=978. =978.
     Fenety,
    Fenety , A, & Walker, J. (2002). Short-term effects of workstation exercises on musculoskeletal discomfort and
    postural changes in seated video display unit workers. Physical Therapy, 82, 82, 578-589.
     Monsey, M, Ioffe,
    Ioffe, I, Beatini,
    Beatini, A, Lukey,
    Lukey, B, Santiago, A, & James, A.B. (2003). Increasing compliance with stretch
    breaks in computer users through reminder software. Work, 21, 21, 107-111.
     Omer, S.R, Ozcan,
    Ozcan , E, Karan,
    Karan , A, & Ketenci,
    Ketenci , A. (2003/2004). Musculoskeletal system disorder in computer users:
    Effectiveness of training and exercise programs. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 17, 17, 9-
    13.
     Occupational Safety and Health Administrations. (2002). Success with Ergonomics. Retrieved September 24,
    2004, from http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/colby.html
    http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/colby.html..
     Para Technologies. (n.d
    (n.d.).
    .). Stretch break: Software to prevent RSIs.
    RSIs. Retrieved October 21, 2004 from
    http://www.paratec.com/index.htm
    http://www.paratec.com/index.htm..
     Pentikis,
    Pentikis, J, Lopez, M.S. & Thomas, R.E. (2002). Ergonomics evaluation of a government office building. Work, 18, 18,
    123-131.
     U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2004). Repetitive motion results in longest work absences.
    absences.
    Retrieved September 24, 2004, from http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2004/mar/wk5/art02.htm.
     Vacek, Kris (n.d
    (n.d.).
    .). Back care: Posture - sitting. Rockhurst University Class Packet. Distributed 2003.

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