Keyboard Operating Posture and Symptoms in Operating

Abstract

A trial of physiotherapy for muscle incoordination and aching (occupational cramp and myalgia) in teleprinter operators revealed an association between these types of symptoms of operating difficulty and disadvantageous operating postures, which in turn were thought to be related to keyboard layout. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between posture and symptoms. Subjects of symptoms and unaffected operators were interviewed, tested in various ways, and observed in teleprinter operating. Adverse operating postures of arm and hand were, with the exception of two types of posture, more often right than left sided (when they were not bilateral) and commoner in subjects than controls. Every part of the upper limb which was a site of symptoms in operating was more often affected on the right side than the left (when not bilaterally affected). Part of limb affected was usually associated with some adverse operating posture of that region. It was concluded that keyboard design and work height predispose to operating postures which in some operators give rise to symptoms in operating.