The effect of aging on muscle activation and postural control pattern for young and older computer users

A lot of older adults try to learn to use computers and might use different ways to perform a computer task compared to younger people. Fifteen healthy young and 15 healthy older adults participated in this study and all performed a series of mouse tasks. A three dimensional motion capture system and electromyographic analysis were used to obtain kinematic and kinetic data during performing the computer tasks. Three-way analysis of variance with repeated measures on task and time factors was used to analyze all dependent measurements. Older adults had higher RMS of forearm muscles compared to the young adults. The RMS of the finger extensor was highest when performing a dragging task. Compared with young adults, the older adults had greater cranial-cervical angle and neck flexion, but smaller head flexion, shoulder angle, elbow angle and ulnar deviation. Consequently, the older adults might have a greater risk of developing musculoskeletal disorder.

► We compare postures and EMGs between young & old computer users during performing mouse tasks.
► Older adults had higher RMS of forearm muscle and greater cranial-cervical and neck flexion angles.
► The RMS of the finger extensor was highest when performing a dragging task.
► The older computer users might be at a greater risk of musculoskeletal disorder.