In subgroup analyses , we found an equal effect of different stressor types ( i.e. cognitive/emotional stress , work pace , and precision ) on muscle activity in both body regions .
In conclusion , simulated workplace stressors result in an increase in neck-shoulder and forearm muscle activity .
No indications were found that different types of stressors affect these body regions differently .
Workplace stressors have been indicated to play a role in the development of neck and upper extremity pain possibly through an increase of sustained ( low-level ) muscle activity .
The aim of this review was to study the effects of workplace stressors on muscle activity in the neck-shoulder and forearm muscles .
An additional aim was to find out whether the muscles of the neck-shoulder and the forearm are affected differently by different types of workplace stressors .
Muscle activity during computer-based office work in relation to self-reported job demands and gender
The aim was to investigate whether quantitative job dem and s influence muscle activity among women , and whether there are gender differences in duration of computer , mouse , and keyboard use and muscle activity of shoulder and forearm muscles during work . The study was carried out in an occupational setting , and 24 women and 11 men from a municipal administration participated . The duration of  computer , mouse , and keyboard use was measured by a commercial software package . Quantitative job dem and s were registered by question naire .  Electromyography ( EMG )  was measured bilaterally from the upper trapezius and the extensor digitorum communis muscles . No association was found between self-reported quantitative job dem and s and muscle activity among the women ( n=24 ) . The women used the keyboard more frequently ( p=0.020 ) and tended to perform fewer mouse clicks compared to men ( p=0.057 ) , but no difference was seen in EMG activity between men ( n=11 ) and women ( n=11 ) from the same department . However , office assistants ( six women ) showed significantly higher static EMG activity levels ( p=0.042 ) and almost significantly shorter EMG gap times ( p=0.060 ) than the rest of the subjects ( 5 women and 11 men ) . This indicated that shorter muscular resting periods among female office assistants as compared to the other subjects were due to differences in job content rather than gender differences
In subgroup analyses , we found an equal effect of different stressor types ( i.e. cognitive/emotional stress , work pace , and precision ) on muscle activity in both body regions .
In conclusion , simulated workplace stressors result in an increase in neck-shoulder and forearm muscle activity .
No indications were found that different types of stressors affect these body regions differently .
Workplace stressors have been indicated to play a role in the development of neck and upper extremity pain possibly through an increase of sustained ( low-level ) muscle activity .
The aim of this review was to study the effects of workplace stressors on muscle activity in the neck-shoulder and forearm muscles .
An additional aim was to find out whether the muscles of the neck-shoulder and the forearm are affected differently by different types of workplace stressors .