Effects of time pressure and precision demands during computer mouse work on muscle oxygenation and position sense

The present study investigated the effects of time pressure and precision demands during computer mouse work on muscle oxygenation and position sense in the upper extremity. Twenty-four healthy subjects (12 males and 12 females) performed a 45-min standardized mouse-operated computer task on two occasions. The task consisted of painting rectangles that were presented on the screen. On one occasion, time pressure and precision demands were imposed (more demanding task, MDT), whereas, on the other occasion, no such restraints were added (less demanding task, LDT). The order of the two task versions was randomized. Tissue oxygen saturation in the trapezius and extensor carpi radialis muscles was recorded throughout, and the position-matching ability of the wrist was measured before and after the tasks. In addition, measurements of autonomic nervous system reactivity and subjective ratings of tenseness and physical fatigue were obtained. Performance was measured in terms of the number of rectangles that were painted during the task. During MDT, oxygen saturation in extensor carpi radialis decreased (P<0.05) compared to LDT. These data were paralleled by increased electrodermal activity (P<0.05), skin blood flow (P<0.05), ratings of tenseness and fatigue (P<0.01), and increased performance (P<0.01) during MDT. Females exhibited lower oxygen saturation than males, during rest as well as during the computer tasks (P<0.01). Wrist repositioning error increased following LDT as compared to MDT (P<0.05). In conclusion, computer mouse work under time pressure and precision demands caused a decrease in forearm muscle oxygenation, but did not affect wrist position sense accuracy. We attribute our changes in oxygenation more to increased oxygen consumption as a result of enhanced performance, than to vasoconstriction.Presented in part at the 49th Nordiska Arbetsmiljömötet in Savonlinna Finland, August 25–27, 2003