VARIATION IN UPPER-LIMB POSTURE AND MOVEMENT DURING WORD-PROCESSING WITH AND WITHOUT MOUSE USE

Work postures and movements of the upper limb were analysed for 12 'mo use' operators and 12 'non-mouse' computer operators employed in word- processing work. Measurements were carried out during correction of a given text. 'Mouse' operators spent 64% of the working time with the o perative wrist deviating more than 15-degrees towards the ulnar side, while 'non-mouse' operators spent 96% of the time with the correspondi ng wrist in neutral position towards radial deviation. The rotation in the shoulder was at all times in neutral position towards inward rota tion for 'non-mouse' operators, while 'mouse' operators worked 81% of the time with the shoulder rotated outward more than 30-degrees. 'Mous e' operators corrected a longer text during the given time. Our observ ations showed long periods of strenuous working postures for 'mouse' o perators compared to 'non-mouse' operators. We believe that further in vestigations need to be carried out on the effects of word-processing techniques and to develop ergonomic work station designs for the 'mous e' and other non-keyboard input devices.