The Effects of Ergonomic Interventions

By: Melinda Montague, Elizabeth Schroeder,

Malissa Shull, and Katie Wilcox

Faculty Mentor: Jane Rues, EdD, OTR, FAOTA

Department of Occupational Therapy Education

Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO
Previous Capstone Study (2003) By: Cara Gwartney, Christie Salszieder, and Stephanie Werner
 Purpose

Does an ergonomic program that
incorporates
1.proper workstation setup
2.rest break and exercise education
3.daily exercise reminders executed by
Stretch Break PRO computer
program

effect pain and sick days
 Other research questions

Leading cause(s) of pain

Pattern of errors in workstations

Compliance with workstation
modifications

Participants’ satisfaction

Utilization of Stretch Break

Effectiveness of weekly survey
 Literature Review

Omer, Ozcan, Karan and Ketenci (2003/2004)
– Studied the effect of training and exercise programs in the
management of cumulative trauma disorder (CTD).
» Treatment group showed a statistically significant improvement
in pain.

Fenety and Walker (2002)
– Compared the amount of movement before and after an
exercise program.
» Subjects who exercised had decreased in-chair movement and
discomfort.

Monsey et al. (2003)
– Investigated strategies for improving compliance with a
prevention program, the Stretch Break PRO.
» Treatment group stretched more than the control group (NS)
 Methods: Subjects

43 participants
Location
– 38 females – 19 participants from
– 5 males Rockhurst University
– 24 participants from
Lockton

Ages

Computer use
– Ranged between 20-
61+ – Mean 7-11 years
– mean age group of – Mean 6-10
26-30 hours/day
– 50% rest breaks
– 50% report fatigue
 Method: Procedure
Assessment - Intervention
Assessments Interventions

Educational meeting
Computer
workstation

Pre-study
modifications
questionnaire
Stretch Break PRO
program (Para
Technologies, 2003)

Computer – Program prompted
workstation analysis stretches every 60
minutes
 Results
Does an ergonomic program that
incorporates
1. proper workstation setup,
2. rest break and exercise education, and
3. Stretch Break PRO computer program

effect pain
– significant p = .002

sick days
– non significant (NS)
 Results

Leading cause(s) of pain
– NS

Effectiveness of weekly
survey
– Weekly too frequent

Pattern of errors in
workstations
– 2 most frequent errors
» Foot position on floor
» Phoning postures

Compliance with
workstation
modifications
– Modifications made
during the evaluation =
highest compliance

Participants’
satisfaction
– Workstation
modifications valued
most

Utilization of Stretch
Break
– Decreasing trend over 12
weeks
 Discussion

Overall participants reported decreased pain

Participants valued workstation modifications
over the other two interventions and had
greater compliance with modifications made
versus those recommended.

While participants verbalized liking and
learning from the Stretch Break PRO
computer program, the built in tracker did
not show congruence between stated and
actual behavior.
Implications for Future Research

Develop research questions relevant to each work
place

Educate both employers and employees

Readily accessible ergonomic adaptations

Weekly vs. monthly on-line surveys

 References

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2004). Ergonomics: Occupational therapy in the workplace. workplace.
Retrieved September 24, 2004, from www.aota.org.
www.aota.org.

Balance Systems, Inc. (n.d(n.d.).
.). National statistics for carpal tunnel syndrome. Retrieved October 7, 2004, from
http://www.repetitive-strain.com/national.html.
http://www.repetitive-strain.com/national.html.

Bayeh,
Bayeh, A.D. & Smith, M.J. (2003). Do ergonomics improvements increase computer workers’ workers’ productivity?: An
intervention study in a call centre. Ergonomics, 46, 46, 1-18.

Ergonomics Today. (2004). Norwegian companies look to ergonomics to curb rising absenteeism. Retrieved
October 28, 2004, from http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id
http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=978. =978.

Fenety,
Fenety , A, & Walker, J. (2002). Short-term effects of workstation exercises on musculoskeletal discomfort and
postural changes in seated video display unit workers. Physical Therapy, 82, 82, 578-589.

Monsey, M, Ioffe,
Ioffe, I, Beatini,
Beatini, A, Lukey,
Lukey, B, Santiago, A, & James, A.B. (2003). Increasing compliance with stretch
breaks in computer users through reminder software. Work, 21, 21, 107-111.

Omer, S.R, Ozcan,
Ozcan , E, Karan,
Karan , A, & Ketenci,
Ketenci , A. (2003/2004). Musculoskeletal system disorder in computer users:
Effectiveness of training and exercise programs. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 17, 17, 9-
13.

Occupational Safety and Health Administrations. (2002). Success with Ergonomics. Retrieved September 24,
2004, from http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/colby.html
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/colby.html..

Para Technologies. (n.d
(n.d.).
.). Stretch break: Software to prevent RSIs.
RSIs. Retrieved October 21, 2004 from
http://www.paratec.com/index.htm
http://www.paratec.com/index.htm..

Pentikis,
Pentikis, J, Lopez, M.S. & Thomas, R.E. (2002). Ergonomics evaluation of a government office building. Work, 18, 18,
123-131.

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2004). Repetitive motion results in longest work absences.
absences.
Retrieved September 24, 2004, from http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2004/mar/wk5/art02.htm.

Vacek, Kris (n.d
(n.d.).
.). Back care: Posture - sitting. Rockhurst University Class Packet. Distributed 2003.