Integration of Myotonometry and Eye Tracking as Objective Assessment of Intensive Display-Based Office Work

Abstract

Intensive display-based office work may result in short-term changes in both the musculoskeletal and visual systems, yet day-to-day workplace screening rarely relies on objective measures. This field study examined the feasibility and sensitivity of a brief protocol combining myotonometry and wearable eye tracking to capture within-day and across-day variation during three consecutive workdays in an ergonomically advanced office. Myotonometry outcomes are presented for a female subsample (n=17), while eye-tracking indicators are summarized for the full cohort (n=31). Myotonometric assessments targeted superficial upper-limb and shoulder muscles and focused on mechanical properties reflecting muscle tone and stiffness. Eye tracking captured viewing behavior and saccade dynamics during typical screen-based tasks. Across the three-day period, myotonometry indicated repeatable time-of-day shifts consistent with increasing neuromuscular loading, with patterns varying by muscle group. Eye-tracking metrics showed progressive changes compatible with time-on-task and cumulative visual-cognitive strain, including lower afternoon saccadic velocities and longer fixation durations by Day 3. Taken together, the findings suggest that integrating myotonometry with wearable eye tracking can reveal early, subclinical signatures of intensive digital work, even when ergonomics are considered optimized. Such multisystem monitoring may complement self-reports and support evidence-based micro-interventions (e.g., task redesign, micro-break scheduling, and individualized workstation coaching).

Keywords: Office Ergonomics, Myotonometry, Eye Tracking, Viewing Behavior, Muscle Tone, Brief Monitoring

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007943