Abstract

The authors evaluated, in an actual work context, the impact of two types of office layouts on workers’ upper limb muscle solicitation and posture and to document the effects of the layouts on comfort and perceived pain. One workstation was organized according to the ergonomic criteria of the Canadian Standards Association. Another, with a single surface, promoted direct forearm support on the work surface. The activity of the trapezius, anterior deltoid and finger extensor muscles, as well as head, trunk, and dominant arm and wrist postures were measured to determine the impacts of the two layouts. Tasks, psychosocial aspects, comfort and perceived pain, as well as the functional limitation associated with this pain, were documented. Measurements of the different workstation components were used to determine the extent of the modifications carried out for each of these two layouts.
Compared to the workstation reorganized according to ergonomic standards, the new single-surface furniture caused, as expected, a distancing of the keyboard and mouse in relation to the extremity of the work surface, with the effect being to slightly increase arm flexion. While an increase in comfort, mainly posture-related, was observed, the new furniture did not have an impact on muscle solicitation and perceived pain.
In the light of the results, furniture providing forearm support on the work surface helps to increase the workers’ comfort. However, its benefit was no greater than a workstation adjustment based on ergonomic standards in relation to muscle solicitation and pain felt.