There was some difficulty getting the pdf for the following, using the previously posted URL; try this one, then click on "pdf" for the full article. I was also asked by a member to remind readers of the benefits of break software; he recommends:
http://www.workrave.org (available for Windows and Linux) For the mac (not Linux) try Coffee Break, which is now freeware (see the following for more info or to download the program: http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/9712/coffee-break-pro-x There are many others; to find them, put "computer break software" into any search engine. Supplementary breaks and stretching exercises for data entry operators: A follow-up field study American Journal of Industrial Medicine Volume 50, Issue 7, Date: July 2007, Pages: 519-527 Traci Galinsky, Naomi Swanson, Steven Sauter, Robin Dunkin, Joseph Hurrell, Lawrence Schleifer Research Article Supplementary breaks and stretching exercises for data entry operators: A follow-up field study This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America. The conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or the Internal Revenue Service. setDOI("ADOI=10.1002/ajim.20472") Abstract/Background This study expanded previous NIOSH-IRS research examining the effects of rest breaks and stretching exercises on symptoms and performance in data-entry workers. Methods All workers spent 4 weeks with conventional breaks (two 15 min breaks per day) and 4 weeks with supplementary breaks (two 15 min breaks plus four 5 min breaks per day). One-half were assigned at random to a group instructed to perform brief stretching exercises during breaks. The remainder comprised the no stretching (control) group. Results 51 workers (stretch group n = 21; no stretch group n = 30) completed the study symptom questionnaires. Discomfort and eyestrain were significantly lower with supplementary breaks, and supplementary breaks attenuated accumulation of discomfort and eyestrain during work sessions. Data-entry speed was significantly faster with supplementary breaks so that work output was maintained, despite replacing 20 min of work time with break time. In the stretch group, workers reported stretching during only 25% of conventional breaks and 39% of supplementary breaks, and no significant effects of stretching on discomfort or performance were observed. Conclusions These results provide further converging evidence that supplementary breaks reliably minimize discomfort and eyestrain without impairing productivity. Low compliance in performing stretches prevented valid assessment of stretching effects. Further research on stretching exercises and exercise compliance is warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:519-527, 2007. Published 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/114265474/ABSTRACT Original notation snipped from: Changing Times News * Number 88 * 7 September 2007 Changing Times News is the TUC's fortnightly online bulletin on work-life balance issues. Visit the website at http:// www.tuc.org.uk/changingtimes http://www.tuc.org.uk/work_life/tuc-13682-f0.cfm _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.isoc-ny.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
