Unravelling the fatigue induced by a prolonged typing task

ObjectiveThe primary aim of this study was to characterise fatigue induced by prolonged typing and its effects on cognitive, motor, and psychomotor functions. A secondary objective was to investigate whether prolonged typing influences the intention to engage in physical activity.BackgroundTyping is an integral part of daily life, at home and at work. Because prolonged engagement in physical or cognitive activities can induce fatigue—characterized by objective and/or subjective manifestations—it is reasonable to assume that typing may induce fatigue.MethodThirty healthy adults (27±5 y.o., 21 females) participated in this within-subjects crossover pre-post design study. Participants completed 90-min of typing or documentary watching. Mental fatigue, effort, motivation, boredom, and perceived workload were assessed during each condition. Cognitive performance, typing performance, maximal voluntary force, and physical activity intention were measured before and after each task. Participants then completed a psychomotor task. ResultsTyping induced greater fatigue than documentary watching (p=.003, η2p=.172), without impairing physical or cognitive performance. In contrast, psychomotor performance was reduced after typing (p=.018, d=0.457) but not after documentary watching. Regardless of condition, physical activity intention decreased after the tasks (p<.001, η2p=.469).ConclusionProlonged typing induces a state of fatigue that selectively impairs psychomotor performance. Both typing and documentary watching reduced physical activity intentions, suggesting that prolonged screen-based sedentary activities may negatively influence physical activity intentions.ApplicationThe results highlight the need to address prolonged screen-based sedentary activities in occupational settings. Regular active breaks may help limit fatigue-related psychomotor declines and reduction in physical activity intentions.