Effects of computer keyboarding on ultrasonographic measures of the median nerve

Toosi, KK and Impink, BG and Baker, NA and Boninger, ML (2011) Effects of computer keyboarding on ultrasonographic measures of the median nerve. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 54 (11). 826 - 833. ISSN 0271-3586

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Abstract

Background: Keyboarding is a highly repetitive daily task and has been linked to musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity. However, the effect of keyboarding on median nerve injuries is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to use ultrasonographic measurements to determine whether continuous keyboarding can cause acute changes in the median nerve. Methods: Ultrasound images of the median nerve from 21 volunteers were captured at the levels of the pisiform and distal radius prior to and following a prolonged keyboarding task (i.e., 1hr of continuous keyboarding). Images were analyzed by a blinded investigator to quantify the median nerve characteristics. Changes in the median nerve ultrasonographic measures as a result of continuous keyboarding task were evaluated. Results: Cross-sectional areas at the pisiform level were significantly larger in both dominant (P=0.004) and non-dominant (P=0.001) hands following the keyboarding task. Swelling ratio was significantly greater in the dominant hand (P=0.020) after 60min of keyboarding when compared to the baseline measures. Flattening ratios were not significantly different in either hand as a result of keyboarding. Conclusion: We were able to detect an acute increase in the area of the median nerve following 1hr of keyboarding with a computer keyboard. This suggests that keyboarding has an impact on the median nerve. Further studies are required to understand this relationship, which would provide insight into the pathophysiology of median neuropathies such as carpal tunnel syndrome. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Details

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
Creators/Authors:	Creators Email Pitt Username ORCID Toosi, KK kkt6@pitt.edu KKT14 Impink, BG Baker, NA nab36@pitt.edu NAB36 Boninger, ML boninger@pitt.edu BONINGER
Centers:	Other Centers, Institutes, Offices, or Units > Human Engineering Research Laboratories
Date:	1 November 2011
Date Type:	Publication
Journal or Publication Title:	American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Volume:	54
Number:	11
Page Range:	826 - 833
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.1002/ajim.20983
Schools and Programs:	School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences > Rehabilitation Science and Technology Swanson School of Engineering > Bioengineering
Refereed:	Yes
ISSN:	0271-3586
MeSH Headings:	Adult; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome--etiology; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome--pathology; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome--ultrasonography; Computer Peripherals; Environmental Exposure--adverse effects; Female; Humans; Male; Median Nerve--injuries; Median Nerve--pathology; Median Nerve--ultrasonography; Middle Aged; Statistics as Topic; Task Performance and Analysis; Ultrasonography--instrumentation; Young Adult
PubMed ID:	21739468
Date Deposited:	02 Nov 2012 21:08
Last Modified:	05 Jan 2021 11:55
URI:	http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/id/eprint/16227

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