Improved Ergonomics Research
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On the picture a study for the effect of wrist angles
Studying Wrist Angles and Joint Health: Redesigning for Ergonomics
In collaboration with doctors, a hand surgeon, physiotherapists, and pianists, we conducted a study to explore how different playing setups affect pianists' hands. Using MRI scans, we were able to observe existing joint issues in the hands of participants. This gave us a unique opportunity to see how certain setups could alleviate these problems, offering insights into how the issues emerged in the first place, effectively disproving accepted medical theories on our way.
Wrist angles are a well-known factor in ergonomics, but we also discovered challenges specific to the original Janko keyboard layout. The row arrangement in this layout can cause strain on the wrists. One temporary solution involved adjusting the chair to an extreme angle, as shown in the image, but this introduced other inefficiencies. Based on these findings, we are now able to work on redesigning keyboard interfaces to reduce strain and improve ergonomic alignment.
This research has given us the ability to implement prevention strategies for pianists and provided a solid foundation for informing doctors about the need to look beyond traditional diagnoses. We recently presented our findings at a medical conference for doctors for musicians in Berlin, where we highlighted these insights. Our work offers a basis for further exploration in both ergonomic design and medical treatment, helping prevent injury and improve care for musicians.
