Affiliations: Department of Occupational Therapy, University of
Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | Clinical Engineering Program, Winnipeg Regional Health
Authority, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Jacquie Ripat, Department of
Occupational Therapy, University of Manitoba, R131-771 McDermot Avenue,
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3E 0T6. E-mail: ripatj@cc.umanitoba.ca
Abstract: Objective: To investigate whether long-term use of an ergonomic
keyboard was effective in reducing symptom severity and improving functional
status for individuals who experience symptoms of work related upper extremity
disorders (WRUED). Participants: Twenty-nine symptomatic workers employed
by a single company. Methods: Participants were assessed after using an
ergonomic keyboard for an average of 34 months. Symptom severity, clinical
signs, functional status, and typing speed were measured and compared with
baseline and six-month study data. Results: Repeated-measure analysis identified that participants maintained the improvement realized at the
six-month study mark for symptom severity and functional status, and maintained
their typing speed and accuracy. Conclusions: The results of the study suggest that continuous ergonomic keyboard use was effective in maintaining
improvements obtained after six months of use. The potential for ergonomic
keyboard use in preventing injury in keyboard operators warrants further
investigation.
Keywords: Keyboard, computer peripheral, ergonomics, work related upper extremity disorders, cumulative trauma disorders, follow-up studies
