Effect of Prolonged Sitting Duration on the Risk for Musculoskeletal Disorders among PC Gamers
Muhammad Nur Luqman CHUMARI1, Mohd Razif MAT HASAN2, Ammar ADNAN1, Radin Zaid RADIN UMAR3, Siby SAMUEL4, ‘Atiah ABDULLAH SIDEK1, Malek HAMID1, *

1 Department of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2 Occupational Safety and Health and Build Environment Division, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

3 Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia

4 Department of System Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada

* Corresponding Author: abdmalek@iium.edu.my

Page 66 – 74   |   Vol. 4, No. 1 (2019)   |    Available online on 1 June 2019

Abstract

In the era of booming gaming industries, gamers are exposed to prolonged sitting involving awkward posture and repetitive tasks that contribute to the risk for musculoskeletal disorders. However, there is no study have been done on the effect of prolonged gaming activities on the human trunk and neck postures. Thus, the objectives of the study are: (i) to evaluate the effect of prolonged gaming on the trunk posture by using the trunk posture analysis; (ii) to evaluate the effect of prolonged gaming on the trunk posture by using the trunk posture analysis; and (iii) to evaluate the discomfort level among the gamers during pre- and post-experimental session by using the Corlett & Bishop’s Scale. Ten participants between 20-25 years of age [mean = 23.85; SD 1.16] completed the study where their activities during gaming were recorded for three hours. From the video output, their postures (trunk and neck) was scored by separating the data into three different categories – one-hour-data, two-hours-data, and three-hours-data.

In addition, they also were asked to self-rate their discomfort level pre- and post-experimental session. The results show that: (i) the mean values of the trunk posture score of one-hour-data, two-hours-data, and three-hours-data are 2.12 [SD = 0.331], 2.15 [SD = 0.383], and 2.31 [SD=0.464] respectively; (ii) the mean values of the neck posture score of one-hour-data, two-hours-data, and three-hours-data are 2.13 [SD = 0.715], 2.01 [SD= 0.767], and 2.44 [SD=0.643] respectively; and (iii) the mean values of the self-rated discomfort level of pre- and post-experimental are 0.37 [SD = 0.669] and 1.90 [SD = 1.155] respectively, and the difference is 1.53 [SD= 1.196]. The findings show that prolonged gaming duration do affect the gamers, specifically on the trunk and neck posture that requires an awareness from the gamers.

Keywords

Musculoskeletal Disorders, Gamers, Prolonged Duration, Posture Ergonomics

Acknowledgement

The research was supported by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education through the RAGS15-066-0129 grant to International Islamic University Malaysia (Malek Hamid, PI) and FRGS16-019-0518 grant to International Islamic University Malaysia
(‘Atiah Abdullah Sidek, PI). This study was also supported by the Department of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia.

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Human Factors & Ergonomics Journal (HFEJ), eISSN: 2590-3705  is the official Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Malaysia.  The journal is published on a biannual basis. HFEJ aims to address current research in the field of Ergonomics in addition to the broad coverage of cognitive ergonomics, user experience, physical ergonomics and others such as transportation, industrial design and industrial engineering. HFEJ is a member of, and subscribes to the principles of the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), as such we only accept original work.