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Multivariate, longitudinal analysis of the impact of changes in office work environments on surface electromyography measures

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Abstract

Purpose

To detect impacts of changes in work environment and worker-equipment interface variables upon surface electromyography (EMG) measures using multivariate, longitudinal analysis.

Methods

For 33 office workers, yearly measurements (1999–2001) were taken during normal work. Independent variables were related to work environment (expert-observed equipment dimensions, work organization on questionnaire) and interface (expert-observed postures, self-reported workstation-equipment relative fit i.e. inside or outside guidelines-informed location, and 30 min video-based task analysis). Internal mechanical exposure (EMG) was recorded bilaterally from extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) and upper trapezius sites, each side, also for 30 min. Dependent variables were amplitude probability distribution functions (APDF 50 and 90%) and gaptime for entire record EMG (over all tasks) and task-specific EMG (for four separate tasks). Multivariate mixed models used independent variables to predict EMG measures (4 muscle sites × (1 entire record + 4 task specific) = 20 models total).

Results

Among EMG measures, 9/16 means and 2/16 variances were significantly different across years (p < 0.1). Environment and interface variables explained part of the variation in EMG measures in 13/20 models. The most consistent predictors included: (1) increased monitor distance predicted reduced APDFs and increased gaptimes; (2) wrist extension <20° predicted decreases in left ECRB APDFs; (3) keyboard location within guidelines predicted improvements in all right ECRB EMG measures during keyboarding; and (4) longer task duration predicted higher APDFs and lower gaptimes.

Conclusion

Longitudinal analysis with multivariate models can detect the impacts of changes in environment and interface exposures on EMG measures among office workers.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge contributions by: other members of the *Worksite Upper Extremity Group at the Institute for Work & Health (Dorcas Beaton, Carol Kennedy, Hyunmi Lee, Anne Moore, Michael Polanyi, Harry Shannon, Peter Subrata, Michael Swift); labour and management members of the RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) Committee at the workplace; and participants in the study. The Institute for Work & Health, an independent not-for-profit research organization, sponsored the study and in turn receives support from the Ontario Workplace Safety & Insurance Board. Specific funding for the physical measures work was provided by the RSI Committee, the John’s Hopkins’ Center for VDT & Health and the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health/National Institutes of Health (Research Grant #5 R01 OH003708-03). None of the authors has ongoing relationships with either the union or company involved.

Conflicts of interest

Other than those relationships described in the Acknowledgements, the authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, ON, Canada

    D. C. Cole, C. Chen, S. Hogg-Johnson, D. Van Eerd & R. P. Wells

  2. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 6th Floor Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada

    D. C. Cole & S. Hogg-Johnson

  3. Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    A. Mazumder

  4. Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    D. Van Eerd & R. P. Wells

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  1. D. C. Cole
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Worksite Upper Extremity Research Group

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Correspondence to D. C. Cole.

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Cole, D.C., Chen, C., Hogg-Johnson, S. et al. Multivariate, longitudinal analysis of the impact of changes in office work environments on surface electromyography measures. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 85, 493–503 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0696-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0696-6

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