Investigating the Effect of Keyboard Distance on the Posture and 3D Moments of Wrist and Elbow Joints among Males Using OpenSim

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the upper extremities and computer use are common in modern societies, and both show a growing trend. This study was conducted to determine the posture and 3D moments of wrist and elbow joints at different keyboard distances on a desk. Twelve healthy right-handed male volunteers attended the motion analysis laboratory. A keyboard was placed at three different distances from the participants' bodies while performing a standard computer task. The workstation was adjusted according to ANSI/HFES-100-2007 standard for each participant to maintain a comfortable ergonomic posture for controlling confounding variables. Qualisys motion capture system, OpenSim (Ver. 4.1), and visual analog scale were used to collect and analyze the data. The highest levels of wrist flexion and radial deviation as well as elbow flexion and pronation were observed when the keyboard was at the edge of the desk. When the keyboard was 8 cm away from the edge of the desk, the right wrist flexion and radial deviation decreased 83% and 89%, respectively. In the left wrist, flexion and radial deviation decreased 94%. With increasing the distance of the keyboard from the edge of the desk, the right elbow flexion, pronation, and left elbow flexion decreased, 95%, 76%, and 85%, respectively. No significant difference was found for the left elbow pronation, wrist, and elbow joint moments, in the studied keyboard distances. However, a cut-off point has to be specified because large keyboard distances cause high extension and flexion of the limbs. The keyboard position relative to the body is an important parameter in computer work and has a significant impact on the posture of the upper extremities. A keyboard should be located at a distance that allows the upper extremities to remain in a neutral position so that the risk of MSDs is reduced.