Ergonomic intervention on neck, shoulder and arm symptoms of newspaper employees in work with visual display units

Shoulder and arm symptoms are typical in work with visual display units (VDUs) among newspaper employees. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two different intervention models for VDU work (E = redesign measures for the environment only, ET = redesign measures for both the environment and work techniques) on neck, shoulder and arm symptoms among newspaper employees. Twenty newspaper employees participated in the study. Work posture, monitor viewing, muscular activity, and musculoskeletal pain were measured before and after the 7-month intervention. Difference was statistically significant between the groups for the change in shoulder flexion (p = 0.0134) and the muscular activity of right trapezius (p = 0.04109) and right extensor carpi radialis (p = 0.0379) in the pre- and postintervention measurements. The reduction of pain symptoms in the neck (p = 0.0073), shoulders (p = 0.0071) and elbows (p = 0.0490) was greater in the ET group than in the E group. This study showed that repeated neck, shoulder and arm symptoms can be more efficiently reduced among newspaper employees if ergonomic measures to improve the work environment are combined with changes in work techniques than if the redesign measures focus only on the work environment.