컴퓨터 작업 수행 시 책상 높이가 척수손상환자의 상지 근 긴장도에 미치는 영향

The effect of desk height on upper extremity muscles tension in spinal cord injured patients during computer work

Objective: This study intended to provide research materials for the proper positioning of the keyboard for computer cork by individuals with a cervical SCI and upper thoracic SCI based on the experimental data on the sEMG activity of five muscles related to computer work. Method: The subjects used were 2 and 3 patients with a cervical complete level (C6) and upper thoracic complete level (T1-6) SCI of A or B as categorized by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA). All participants were given the task of typing on the middle line of the heights (5 ㎝ below, same as, 5 ㎝ above, 10 ㎝ above the olecranon). During the experiment the sEMG activity ( % RVC) of the muscles of the neck and shoulder, such as the cervical erector spinae, upper trapezius, anterior deltoid, middle deltoid and the biceps muslces, were measured using a surface sEMG. Results: Measurements of cervical SCI (C6) patients showed that the muscle activity of the cervical erector spinae, upper trapezius, anterior deltoid, middle deltoid muscle decreased at a height of less than 5 ㎝ on the elbow. However, the biceps muscle activity was lower at 5 ㎝ above the elbow. In the upper thoracic injured group (T1-T6), the muscle activity of the cervical erector spinae, upper trapezius, anterior deltoid, middle deltoid and biceps were lower than those of the elbow less than 5 ㎝ . Conclusion: The appropriate keyboard height was 5 ㎝ below the elbow to reduce the neck and upper extremity muscle strength of the cervical and thoracic SCI groups. In future studies, it is necessary to investigate the VDT environment suitable for the disorder characteristics of more spinal injuries.