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 .
The Effects of Work Pace on Within-Participant and Between-Participant Keying Force, Electromyography, and Fatigue
A laboratory study was conducted to determine the effects of work pace on typing force , electromyographic ( EMG ) activity , and subjective discomfort . We found that as participants typed faster , their typing force and finger flexor and extensor EMG activity increased linearly . There was also an increase in subjective discomfort , with a sharp threshold between participants ' self-selected pace and their maximum typing speed . The results suggest that participants self-select a typing pace that maximizes typing speed and minimizes discomfort . The fastest typists did not produce significantly more finger flexor EMG activity but did produce proportionately less finger extensor EMG activity compared with the slower typists . We hypothesize that fast typists may use different muscle recruitment patterns that allow them to be more efficient than slower typists at striking the keys . In addition , faster typists do not experience more discomfort than slow typists . These findings show that the relative pace of typing is more important than actual typing speed with regard to discomfort and muscle activity . These results suggest that typists may benefit from skill training to increase maximum typing speed . Potential applications of this research includes skill training for typists
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 .