Peer-reviewed research
A randomised controlled trial of postural interventions for prevention of musculoskeletal symptoms among computer users
Fredric Gerr et al., Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2005 · DOI 10.1136/oem.2004.015792
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- A randomised trial of 376 computer users who typed for more than 15 hours a week. It compared two workstation and posture programmes with a comparison group over six months of weekly symptom diaries.
- How much weight it carries
- Peer-reviewed randomised trial with a long follow-up. Compliance with the full programme was low, so the result says that these particular interventions did not work as delivered, not that every ergonomic change fails.
Facts taken from this source
- The 2005 randomised trial of postural interventions included 376 people who used computer keyboards for more than 15 hours a week.
“Randomised controlled trial of two distinct workstation and postural interventions (an alternate intervention and a conventional intervention) among 376 persons using computer keyboards for more than 15 hours per week.” (Methods)
- In the 2005 trial, only 25 to 38 percent of people complied with all components of the intervention, mainly because workstations could not be configured to fit.
“Compliance with all components of the intervention was attained for only 25-38% of individuals, due mainly to the inflexibility of workstation configurations.” (Results)
- The 2005 trial concluded that two specific workplace postural interventions are unlikely to reduce upper extremity symptoms among computer users.
“This study provides evidence that two specific workplace postural interventions are unlikely to reduce the risk of upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms among computer users.” (Conclusions)