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Effect of Electronic Mouse Design on Patterns of Motor Coordination of the
Forearm and Wrist and on User Skill (1991-1997)
Ann Barr, PhD (PhD Research)
The objectives of this study are:
- To evaluate the effects of occupational electronic mouse use on the forearm and wrist in a
laboratory setting using pertinent musculoskeletal and skill proficiency outcomes.
- To design an alternative mouse that reduces the risk of forearm and wrist cumulative trauma
disorders (CTD) and to determine the effect of mouse design on musculoskeletal outcome measures.
- To determine the effect of electronic mouse design on skill acquisition and proficiency among
highly skilled and novice mouse users.
This study will document the existence of risk factors for CTD among occupational mouse users,
result in the production of a new electronic mouse designed specifically to reduce these risk
factors, investigate the effects of mouse design on these risk factors, and provide knowledge
about changes of motor coordination patterns during fine motor skill acquisition of complex tasks.
This is a Ph.D. thesis project. The proposal was defended successfully on December 13, 1993.
The alternative mouse has been fabricated and patent application procedures are completed.
With the help of David Goldsheyder, an in-house apparatus is built to measure strength and
EMG of the forearm and wrist muscles in multiple joint positions. Data collection is completed.
Data analysis is underway
This project has been supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
through grant R03-OH03260-01 and received one of six John J. O'Toole Safety Memorial Scholarship
Awards given in 1996 by New York University. |
