Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6947600 | Applied Ergonomics | 2018 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to use radiographic measurements to compare cervical spine kinematics in various tablet computer reading postures. Radiographs were taken of twenty-two participants reading a tablet computer in five different postures. The lower cervical spine was more flexed in the semi-reclined (-8.2â¯Â±â¯3.8°) and the reclined (-14.9â¯Â±â¯4.0°) tablet positions compared to an upright (-4.43â¯Â±â¯4.8°) tablet posture. Of the tablet reading positions, the reclined position had the lowest gravitational moment arm (5.2â¯Â±â¯2.3â¯cm) and a skull angle closest to neutral (-9.4â¯Â±â¯11.4°), while exhibiting the largest extension in the C1-C2 joint (34.4â¯Â±â¯9.1°). Altering trunk position when reading a tablet could reduce the load required to support the head, but could put the head in a more forward head posture, stretch the cervical extensor muscles, and potentially result in pain.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Computer Science
Human-Computer Interaction
Authors
Ethan C. Douglas, Kaitlin M. Gallagher,