Date of Award

Spring 2003

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

First Advisor

Marklin, Richard

Second Advisor

Cariapa, Vikram

Third Advisor

Simoneau, Guy G.

Abstract

The rapid advancement of technology has made computers today's most common tool assisting office workers. In every aspect of jobs, it is obvious that workers have relied much on the use of computer. This circumstance, unfortunately, causes an increased risk of computer-related syndromes, both quantitative and qualitatively This study is interested in examining the aspect of wrist posture in flexion/extension plane and its relation to the wrist-related musculoskeletal disorders. MSDs at the wrist include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and tenosynovitis. To the author's knowledge, the studies of wrist extension while typing have focused, thus far, on determining the effect of one single factor of keyboard or workstation settings on wrist posture while typing. Also lacking is the association of the wrist extension and the typing method used by VDT workers. Thus, this study will address the research voids of the joint effect of several typing factors, such as the keyboard slope, keyboard height, typing method, and the presence/absence of wrist rest, on wrist extension angle while typing. The means to achieve this goal are multiple regression models. Furthermore, the empirical models will be developed based on the typing postures of VDT workers in actual office situations rather than in the laboratory situation.

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