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An Investigation of an Ergonomic Intervention on Neck Biomechanics and Pain due to Smartphone Use

Tang, Minghao
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1471252572

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Industrial and Systems Engineering.
An engineering control-type intervention was investigated, that was hypothesized to reduce awkward neck posture while viewing a smartphone display (as when reading or typing). The intervention, a pair of eye glasses that incorporated a 90 deg prism in each lens, was hypothesized to reduce neck and head flexion in smartphone users. Fifteen symptomatic subjects with neck pain and 10 asymptomatic subjects were recruited. Subjects performed a 10 minute texting task on their smartphone in four conditions: standing or sitting with or without wearing the prism glasses. Muscle activity in neck (cervical erector spinae) and shoulder (upper trapezius) muscles, neck flexion, head tilt, discomfort level, speed, accuracy, and subjective perceptions were assessed. The prism glasses significantly reduced neck extensor muscle activity, neck flexion, and head tilt when compared to the direct view. In the symptomatic group, the intervention method resulted in significantly less neck and shoulder discomfort at the conclusion of the task when compared to the direct view, irrespective of posture (standing or sitting). The ergonomic intervention in this study appears to offer an alternative method to interact with a smartphone that could reduce the exposure to the pronounced flexed neck and head posture that is so commonly seen in smartphone users, and thereby could reduce musculoskeletal discomfort in the neck region that is associated with smartphone use.
Carolyn M. Sommerich (Advisor)
Steven A. Lavender (Committee Member)
92 p.
Industrial Engineering; Public Health
Smartphone; Intervention; Musculoskeletal discomfort; Prism; Glass

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Tang, M. (2016). An Investigation of an Ergonomic Intervention on Neck Biomechanics and Pain due to Smartphone Use [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1471252572

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Tang, Minghao. An Investigation of an Ergonomic Intervention on Neck Biomechanics and Pain due to Smartphone Use. 2016. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1471252572.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Tang, Minghao. "An Investigation of an Ergonomic Intervention on Neck Biomechanics and Pain due to Smartphone Use." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1471252572

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1471252572
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.