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Effect of break time on the upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder development among intensive computer users in Malaysia

Upper Extremity musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) has become a common problem among office workers in Malaysia. Studies have shown that an appropriate work-rest schedule can reduce fatigue and MSDs among office workers. In Malaysia, there has been an increase in the occurrence of MSDs, especially in wo...

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Main Authors: Manoharan, Thulasi, Mohd Yusuff, Rosnah, Zulkifli, Norzima, Perimal, Enoch Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Biome Scientia 2018
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/72383/1/Effect%20of%20break%20time%20on%20the%20upper%20extremity%20musculoskeletal%20.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/72383/
https://biomescientia.com/index.php/lsmb/article/view/7
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spelling my.upm.eprints.723832022-07-28T07:49:38Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/72383/ Effect of break time on the upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder development among intensive computer users in Malaysia Manoharan, Thulasi Mohd Yusuff, Rosnah Zulkifli, Norzima Perimal, Enoch Kumar Upper Extremity musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) has become a common problem among office workers in Malaysia. Studies have shown that an appropriate work-rest schedule can reduce fatigue and MSDs among office workers. In Malaysia, there has been an increase in the occurrence of MSDs, especially in work that require intensive computer use. Operators who used computers continuously for more than 4 hours a day have shown to develop CTDs. Studies on the effect of break time on the performance of office workers in Malaysia are still lacking. As such this study was aimed to evaluate effect of work rest schedule on the discomfort, performance and muscular load levels of computer users in Malaysia. The effect of break time starting with no break, one minute and 30 seconds break interval were carried out on the 15 subjects. EMG was measured for each task given. Performance which was calculated by multiplying speed and accuracy (WPM) showed 30 seconds break was 13.5% higher than 1 minute break and 20.14% higher than schedule with no break. EMG analyses showed 30 seconds have lowest mean AEMG which was 0.035 for flexor carpi ulnaris and 0.0331 for radialis muscles. It also recorded least discomfort scale for upper extremity muscles compared to the other two schedules. This study showed that more frequent microbreaks can improve performance of office workers and reduce MSD problem from occurring. Biome Scientia 2018 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/72383/1/Effect%20of%20break%20time%20on%20the%20upper%20extremity%20musculoskeletal%20.pdf Manoharan, Thulasi and Mohd Yusuff, Rosnah and Zulkifli, Norzima and Perimal, Enoch Kumar (2018) Effect of break time on the upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder development among intensive computer users in Malaysia. Life Sciences, Medicine and Biomedicine, 2 (1). 1-Jul. ISSN 2600-7207 https://biomescientia.com/index.php/lsmb/article/view/7 10.28916/lsmb.2.1.2018.7
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
building UPM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Putra Malaysia
content_source UPM Institutional Repository
url_provider http://psasir.upm.edu.my/
language English
description Upper Extremity musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) has become a common problem among office workers in Malaysia. Studies have shown that an appropriate work-rest schedule can reduce fatigue and MSDs among office workers. In Malaysia, there has been an increase in the occurrence of MSDs, especially in work that require intensive computer use. Operators who used computers continuously for more than 4 hours a day have shown to develop CTDs. Studies on the effect of break time on the performance of office workers in Malaysia are still lacking. As such this study was aimed to evaluate effect of work rest schedule on the discomfort, performance and muscular load levels of computer users in Malaysia. The effect of break time starting with no break, one minute and 30 seconds break interval were carried out on the 15 subjects. EMG was measured for each task given. Performance which was calculated by multiplying speed and accuracy (WPM) showed 30 seconds break was 13.5% higher than 1 minute break and 20.14% higher than schedule with no break. EMG analyses showed 30 seconds have lowest mean AEMG which was 0.035 for flexor carpi ulnaris and 0.0331 for radialis muscles. It also recorded least discomfort scale for upper extremity muscles compared to the other two schedules. This study showed that more frequent microbreaks can improve performance of office workers and reduce MSD problem from occurring.
format Article
author Manoharan, Thulasi
Mohd Yusuff, Rosnah
Zulkifli, Norzima
Perimal, Enoch Kumar
spellingShingle Manoharan, Thulasi
Mohd Yusuff, Rosnah
Zulkifli, Norzima
Perimal, Enoch Kumar
Effect of break time on the upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder development among intensive computer users in Malaysia
author_facet Manoharan, Thulasi
Mohd Yusuff, Rosnah
Zulkifli, Norzima
Perimal, Enoch Kumar
author_sort Manoharan, Thulasi
title Effect of break time on the upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder development among intensive computer users in Malaysia
title_short Effect of break time on the upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder development among intensive computer users in Malaysia
title_full Effect of break time on the upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder development among intensive computer users in Malaysia
title_fullStr Effect of break time on the upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder development among intensive computer users in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Effect of break time on the upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder development among intensive computer users in Malaysia
title_sort effect of break time on the upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder development among intensive computer users in malaysia
publisher Biome Scientia
publishDate 2018
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/72383/1/Effect%20of%20break%20time%20on%20the%20upper%20extremity%20musculoskeletal%20.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/72383/
https://biomescientia.com/index.php/lsmb/article/view/7
_version_ 1740827321399508992
score 13.211869

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