A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating an Alternative Mouse and Forearm Support on Upper Body Discomfort and Musculoskeletal Disorders among Engineers

Craig F Conlon ¹, Niklas Krause ² and David M Rempel ^2*

¹ University of California, Los Angeles, United States
² University of California, San Francisco, United States

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rempel{at}itsa.ucsf.edu.

Accepted 29 June 2007

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this intervention study was to determine the effects of an alternative mouse and/or a forearm support board on the change in upper body discomfort scores and the development of incident musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: This randomized controlled intervention trial followed 206 engineers for one year. Participants were randomized to receive (1) a conventional mouse only, (2) an alternative mouse only, (3) a forearm support board, or (4) an alternative mouse plus forearm support board. Outcome measures included weekly upper body discomfort scores and incident musculoskeletal disorders. Results: During the study, 42 participants were diagnosed with an incident musculoskeletal disorder. The group that received the forearm support board experienced a reduction of their right upper extremity discomfort (beta-coefficient = -0.35, 95% C.I. = -0.67 to -0.03) in comparison to those who did not receive a forearm board. The group that received the alternative mouse had a protective, but non-significant (p=0.20), effect on incident cases of right upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (HR=0.57, 95% C.I.= 0.24 to 1.34) and a non-significant reduction in neck-shoulder discomfort (beta-coefficient = -0.23, 95% C.I.=-.056 to 0.10) in comparison to those who received a conventional mouse. Conclusions: In engineers, who use a computer for more than 20 hours per week, a forearm support board may reduce right upper extremity discomfort attributed to computer use.

Keywords: RCT, computer work, ergonomics, intervention study, neuropathy

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