Product and service design for preventing neck pain in white-collar office workers

• Main Author: Ng, Austen Xi Rui
• Other Authors: Chen Chun-Hsien
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2021
• Subjects: Engineering::Mechanical engineering; Engineering::Manufacturing::Product design
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/150154
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Neck pain is the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide and is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) amongst white-collar office workers due to their sedentary nature of work. The risk factors associated with neck pain are multifactorial and while there are a variety of workplace interventions implemented, specific and well-designed interventions for the rehabilitation of such MSD are still lacking. This project studies the underlying mechanisms behind the associated risks factors of neck pain, and surveys existing products and services that alleviates the consequences and prevents the onset of neck pain. Consequently, a prototype of a data-driven, smart software product and service design is developed based on the findings of the study and survey. The software tracks daily pain scores and pain areas; provides guided neck exercises as a form of neck pain self-management strategy; and collects behavioural data to provide personalized recommendations to reduce the risk factor of stress in users. Computer vision and machine learning algorithms will be used to enable the use of non-obtrusive, inexpensive peripherals like webcam for data collection and interpretation. Fifty random office workers were recruited to test the prototype. Quantitative and qualitative feedback were then obtained from them through user acceptability surveys and open-ended questionnaires.