An exploratory study of the relationship between biomechanical factors and right-arm musculoskeletal discomfort and fatigue in a VDT data-entry task

Abstract

The relationship of key force and keystroke rate with right-arm musculoskeletal discomfort and fatigue was explored in a video-display-terminal (VDT) data-entry task. Forty-three data transcribers entered bogus data from tax forms at a VDT for one workday with their right hand. Peak key force and keystroke rate were monitored on a continuous basis. Self-ratings of right-arm discomfort and fatigue were assessed at periodic intervals. Stepwise regression analyses indicated that both lower key forces and lower keystroke rates were associated with higher ratings of right-elbow discomfort. In addition, lower key forces were associated with higher ratings of right-hand discomfort and lower keystroke rates were associated with higher ratings of right-shoulder discomfort and fatigue. The amount of variance accounted for by these models ranged from 7 to 24%. These results appear to be contrary to conventional biomechanical models that postulate a positive association between key force, keystroke rate and musculoskeletal discomfort in VDT work. Further laboratory and field research under controlled conditions is needed to clarify the direction and extent of the cause-and-effect relationship between biomechanical factors and musculoskeletal discomfort in VDT data-entry work.