Question

Discuss why (from a biomechanics point of view) that tilting your head forward while working at a VDT is fatiguing.

Answer 1

Forward head posture while working on Visual Display Terminal (VDT) creates extra load on muscles which are attached to cervical spine because these muscles play a role in holding the head. The overload and hyperextension of these muscles for longer duration of time causes pain and fatigue because of: Forward leaning of head for long durations, faulty sitting posture while using computer or screen, slouching, poor ergonomic alignment and lack of development of back muscles. The muscle activity in normal head posture gets reduced than in forward head posture in the muscles such as sternocleidomastoid muscle, upper trapezius, cervical vertebral spinae, thoracic vertebrae spinae muscles and lumbar spinae muscles.