An Electromyographic Study of Two Different Types of Ballpoint Pens

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare a New pen (N pen) with a conventional pen (C pen) for the load that they exert on the upper limb during 1 h of continuous writing. EMG and upper limb pain scores are used as indicators. C pen's grip area is cylindrical with an 8.3-mm diameter, and is manufactured of hard plastic, which is rigid and slippery. N pen has a cylindrical grip area that flares out at the bottom, near the pen-tip, and has a diameter ranging from 11.9-13.6mm. and the grip is constructed of a 2 to 3 mm-thick silicon rubber sleeve that is softer and less slippery than C pen. Twelve students transcribed an English text for 1 h, alternately using the two pens. The EMG of the flexor pollicis brevis and the pain scores for the thumb, forefinger, middle finger, forearm and shoulder were significantly lower for N pen than for C pen.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Borg

, 1990, Psychophysical scaling with applications in physical work and the perception of exertion. Scandinavian J Work Environ Health, 16(Supple. 1), 55–8.

Gross

C.M.

Lloyd

J.D.

Tabler

R.E.

, 1996, Ergonomic analysis of pen comfort and wrist dynamics while writing. Internet article 1–10, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

Hosokawa

, 1970, Cases of occupational cervicobrachial disorder etc in clerks. Jap J Ind Health, 12(6), 293–4.

Kendall

MacCreary

E.K.

Provance

, 1992, Muscles: Testing and Function. 4th ed. Williams & Wilkins, USA.

Kogi

, 1960, Electromyographic study of working on electric poles and the maximum permissible limit of work duration. J Science of Labour, 36, 85–93.

Kogi

, 1970, Labor and fatigue - muscular pain and the condition just after the night shift for the main part- Kagaku, 40, 239–47.

Kogi

Hakamada

, 1962, Frequency analysis of the surface electromyogram in muscle fatigue. J Science of Labour, 38, 519–28.

Maeda

, 1975, An electromyographical study of the muscle loads at copying-slips writing with a ballpoint pen. Jap J Ind Health, 17, 203–9.

Nakamura

Saito

, 1979, Clinical Kinesiology. 1st ed. 22–6, Ishiyaku Publishing Inc., Tokyo.

10.

Sadoyama

Kogi

, 1969, On above-shoulder work area for manual operation. Jap J Ergonomics, 6, 45–50.

11.

Shigeta

, 1974, An experimental study of the load by handwriting using grip pressure and pen point pressures as indicators. Sumitomo Sangyo Eisei, 10, 93–101.

12.

Udo

, 1991, Deskwork - Work of a clerk and Health problem, 1st ed. 12–41, Rodo Kijun Chosakai, Tokyo.

13.

Udo

, 1994, Study on the relationship between the square gripped and the grip power (unpublished).

14.

Udo

Tanida

Yoshinaga

, 1990, Electromyographic study on the optimum grip diameter of ballpoint pens with reduced writing grip pressure. J Science of Labour, 66(1), 24–34.

15.

Udo

Yoshinaga

, 1994, The effect of a reformed mechanical pencil reducing cervicobrachial load (Part 1) - Investigation on the incidence of cervicobrachial disorders and the factors affecting cervicobrachial load in writing. J Science of Labour, 70(4), 145–59.

16.

Udo

Bheema

Konz

, 1995a, Pen grip versus grip electromyograms and pen point pressure. J Science of Labour, 71(3), 1–9.

17.

Udo

Yoshinaga

Udo

, 1995b, The effect of a reformed mechanical pencil reducing cervicobrachial load (Part 2) - Comparison on the cervicobrachial load between a reformed mechanical pencil and standard one. J Science of Labour, 71(1), 10–21.