JOB DEMANDS, MUSCLE-ACTIVITY AND MUSCULOSKELETAL SYMPTOMS IN RELATIONTO WORK WITH THE COMPUTER MOUSE

Objectives This study assessed work postures, movements, psychosocial job demands, and shoulder and wrist extensor muscle activity and regis tered the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms of computer-aided des ign (CAD) operators. Methods A questionnaire survey was used to study the use of the computer mouse, psychosocial work factors, and musculos keletal symptoms among 149 CAD operators. A workplace study was perfor med using observations, electrogoniometers on the wrists, and electrom yography to measure exposures and physiological responses during CAD w ork among a subgroup of the CAD operators. Results Musculoskeletal sym ptoms were far more prevalent for the arm or hand operating the mouse than for the other arm or hand, and women were more affected than men. The symptoms may be related to such risk factors as repetitive moveme nts, static postures leg, ulnar-deviated and extended wrist on the mou se side), and static muscular activation patterns. The risk factors we re present due to continuous mouse use and possibly also due to high d emands for mental attentiveness, precision, and information processing . Conclusions Exposure during work with a computer mouse may present a risk for developing musculoskeletal symptoms. Improvements should foc us on introducing more variation.