Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Oxygenation, EMG and position sense during computer mouse work. Impact of active versus passive pauses

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We investigated the effects of active versus passive pauses implemented during computer mouse work on muscle oxygenation and EMG of the forearm extensor carpi radialis muscle, and on wrist position sense. Fifteen healthy female subjects (age: 19–24 years) performed a 60-min mouse-operated computer task, divided into three 20 min periods, on two occasions separated by 3–6 days. On one occasion a passive pause (subjects resting) was implemented at the end of each 20-min period, and on another occasion an active pause (subjects performed a number of high intensity extensions of the forearm) was implemented. Also at the end of each 20-min period, test contractions were conducted and subjective ratings of fatigue and stress were obtained. Another parameter of interest was total haemoglobin calculated as the summation of oxy-and deoxy-haemoglobin, since it reflects blood volume changes. The most interesting findings were an overall increasing trend in total haemoglobin throughout the mouse work (P<0.001), and that this trend was greater for the active pause as compared to the passive pause (P<0.01). These data were accompanied by an overall increase in oxygen saturation (P<0.001), with a tendency, albeit not significant, toward a higher increase for the active pause (P=0.13). EMG amplitude and median frequency tended to decrease (P=0.08 and 0.05, respectively) during the mouse work but was not different between pause types. Borg ratings of forearm fatigue showed an overall increase during the activity (P<0.001), but the perceptions of stress did not change. Position sense did not change due to the mouse work for either pause type. While increasing trends were found for both pause types, the present study lends support to the hypothesis of an enhancement in oxygenation and blood volume for computer mouse work implemented with active pauses. However, a presumption of an association between this enhancement and attenuated fatigue during the mouse work was not supported.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aarås A, Ro O (1997) Workload when using a mouse as an input device. Int J Hum Comput Int 9:105–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balci R, Aghazadeh F (2003) The effect of work-rest schedules and type of task on the discomfort and performance of VDT users. Ergonomics 46:455–465

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bergqvist U (1995) Visual-display terminal work. A perspective on long-term changes and discomforts. Int J Indus Ergon 16:201–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Björklund M, Crenshaw AG, Djupsjobacka M, Johansson H (2000) Position sense acuity is diminished following repetitive low-intensity work to fatigue in a simulated occupational setting. Eur J Appl Physiol 81:361–367

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blangsted AK, Vedsted P, Sjogaard G, Sogaard K (2005) Intramuscular pressure and tissue oxygenation during low-force static contraction do not underlie muscle fatigue. Acta Physiol Scand 183:379–388

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borg G (1990) Psychophysical scaling with applications in physical work and the perception of exertion. Scand J Work Environ Health 16:55–58

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boushel R, Piantadosi CA (2000) Near-infrared spectroscopy for monitoring muscle oxygenation. Acta Physiol Scand 168:615–622

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradley MM, Lang PJ (1999) International affective digitized sounds (IADS): stimuli, instruction manual and affective ratings. Technical report B-2, The Center for Research in Psychophysiology, University of Florida, Gainsville

  • De Blasi RA, Ferrari M, Natali A, Conti G, Mega A, Gasparetto A (1994) Noninvasive measurement of forearm blood flow and oxygen consumption by near-infrared spectroscopy. J Appl Physiol 76:1388–1393

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari M, Mottola L, Quaresima V (2004) Principles, techniques, and limitations of near infrared spectroscopy. Can J Appl Physiol 29:463–487

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Galinsky TL, Swanson NG, Sauter SL, Hurrell JJ, Schleifer LM (2000) A field study of supplementary rest breaks for data-entry operators. Ergonomics 43:622–638

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heiden M, Lyskov E, Djupsjobacka M, Hellstrom F, Crenshaw AG (2005) Effects of time pressure and precision demands during computer mouse work on muscle oxygenation and position sense. Eur J Appl Physiol 94:97–106

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henning RA, Jacques P, Kissel GV, Sullivan AB, Alteras-Webb SM (1997) Frequent short rest breaks from computer work: effects on productivity and well-being at two field sites. Ergonomics 40:78–91

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henning RA, Sauter SL, Salvendy G, Krieg EF (1989) Microbreak length, performance, and stress in a data entry task. Ergonomics 32:855–864

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hicks A, McGill S, Hughson RL (1999) Tissue oxygenation by near-infrared spectroscopy and muscle blood flow during isometric contractions of the forearm. Can J Appl Physiol 24:216–230

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ignatius YT, Yee TY, Yan LT (1993) Self reported musculoskeletal problems amongst typist and possible risk factors. J Hum Ergol (Tokyo) 22:83–93

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen C, Borg V, Finsen L, Hansen K, Juul-Kristensen B, Christensen H (1998) Job demands, muscle activity and musculoskeletal symptoms in relation to work with the computer mouse. Scand J Work Environ Health 24:418–424

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen C (2003) Development of neck and hand-wrist symptoms in relation to duration of computer use at work. Scand J Work Environ Health 29:197–205

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johansson H, Arendt-Nilsson L, Bergenheim M, Blair S, van Dieen J, Djupsjöbacka M, Fallentin N, Gold JE, Hägg G, Kalezic N, Larsson SE, Ljubisavljevic M, Lyskov E, Mano T, Magnusson M, Passatore M, Pedrosa-Domellöf F, Punnett L, Roatta S, Thornell LE, Windhorst U, Zukowska Z (2003) Epilogue: An integrated model for chronic work-related myalgia “Brussels Model”. In: Johansson H, Windhorst U, Djupsjöbacka M, Passatore M (eds) Chronic work-related Myalgia. Neuromuscular mechanisms behind work-related chronic muscle pain syndromes. Gävle University Press, Umeå, pp 291–300

  • Juul-Kristensen B, Sogaard K, Stroyer J, Jensen C (2004) Computer users’ risk factors for developing shoulder, elbow and back symptoms. Scand J Work Environ Health 30:390–398

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karlqvist LK, Hagberg M, Koster M, Wenemark M, Ånell R (1996) Musculoskeletal symptoms among computer-assisted design (CAD) operators and evaluation of a self-assessment questionnaire. Int J Occup Environ Health 2:185–194

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lönn J, Crenshaw AG, Djupsjöbacka M, Johansson H (2000) Reliability of position sense testing assessed with a fully automated system. Clin Physiol 20:30–37

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mathiassen SE, Winkel J (1992) Can occupational guidelines for work-rest schedules be based on endurance time data? Ergonomics 35:253–259

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McLean L, Tingley M, Scott RN, Rickards J (2001) Computer terminal work and the benefit of microbreaks. Appl Ergon 32:225–237

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moller T, Mathiassen SE, Franzon H, Kihlberg S (2004) Job enlargement and mechanical exposure variability in cyclic assembly work. Ergonomics 47:19–40

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muira H, Araki H, Matoba H, Kitagawa K (2000) Relationship among oxygenation, myoelectric activity and lactic acid accumulation in vastus lateralis muscle during exercise with constant work rate. Int J Ports Med 21:180–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Myers DE, Cooper CE, Beilman GJ, Mowlem JD, Anderson LD, Seifert RP, Ortner JP (2005) Noninvasive method for measuring local hemoglobin oxygen saturation in tissue using wide gap second derivative near-infrared spectroscopy. J Biomed Opt 10(3):034017-1–034017-2

    Google Scholar 

  • Praagman M, Veeger HE, Chadwick EK, Colier WN, van der Helm FC (2003) Muscle oxygen consumption, determined by NIRS, in relation to external force and EMG. J Biomech 36:905–912

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sundelin G, Hagberg M (1989) The effects of different pause types on neck and shoulder EMG activity during VDU work. Ergonomics 32:527–537

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tittiranonda P, Burastero S, Rempel D (1999) Risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders among computer users. Occup Med 14:17–38

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tschakovsky ME, Rogers AM, Pyke KE, Saunders NR, Glenn N, Lee SJ, Weissgerber T, Dwyer EM (2004) Immediate exercise hyperemia in humans is contraction intensity dependent: evidence for rapid vasodilation. J Appl Physiol 96:639–644

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vedsted P, Blangsted AK, Sogaard K, Orizio C, Sjogaard G (2006) Muscle tissue oxygenation, pressure, electrical, and mechanical responses during dynamic and static voluntary contractions. Eur J Appl Physiol 96:165–177

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank and Thorleif Hageberg for inspiration and ideas, Kerstin Nilsson for valuable assistance during data collection and analysis, Göran Sandström for expert technical support. Furthermore, Svend Erik Mathiassen is acknowledged for expert consultation regarding experimental design and methodology. The study was supported by funding from Hageberg Invest AB, Hillerstorp, Sweden and grants from the Swedish Council for Work Life Research. The experiments comply with current Swedish law.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, P.O. Box 7629, 907 12, Umeå, Sweden

    A.G. Crenshaw, M. Djupsjöbacka & Å. Svedmark

Authors
  1. A.G. Crenshaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Djupsjöbacka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Å. Svedmark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A.G. Crenshaw.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Crenshaw, A., Djupsjöbacka, M. & Svedmark, Å. Oxygenation, EMG and position sense during computer mouse work. Impact of active versus passive pauses. Eur J Appl Physiol 97, 59–67 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0138-4

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0138-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation