Presentation
A 3D-Printed Shoulder Support to Reduce Neck Strain During Prolonged VR Device Use: Pilot Findings
DescriptionProlonged use of virtual reality (VR) headsets has been linked to increased neck muscle fatigue and discomfort, posing ergonomic concerns for both recreational and occupational users. To address this, we developed a novel VR headset support system—VR Brace (VRB)—using 3D scanning, CAD modeling, and fused deposition modeling 3D printing. The VRB was engineered to transfer the load of the headset from the cervical spine to the shoulders, aiming to reduce neck musculoskeletal strain without compromising headset functionality. This study compared three VR support conditions: standard head-strap (Control), a literature-based spring system (Spring), and the newly developed VRB, while using a 0.5 kg VR (Meta Quest-3). Participants completed three prolonged VR-based simulated office tasks (document creation, Fitts’ Law, and video watching) while surface electromyography and subjective discomfort ratings (Borg CR10) were collected. Results showed that the VRB yielded improved comfort for facial pressure (3.8 ± 2.6) compared to Control (4.2 ± 2.3) and considerably reduced upper trapezius muscle activation during document and video tasks. Notably, the VRB group reported greater neck discomfort scores (4.6 ± 2.6), likely due to joint resistance during head movement, although cervical extensors still showed decreased fatigue trends. These findings suggest the VRB's design redistributed headset weight effectively, but refinement in joint mechanics is needed. Our pilot data highlighted the feasibility and promise of using 3D printed ergonomic solutions to mitigate VR-induced discomfort and fatigue, supporting the VRB’s potential as a scalable intervention for safer VR integration in long-duration tasks.
Authors
Research Assistant
Event Type
Late Breaking Results
TimeTuesday, October 14th4:50pm - 5:10pm CDT
LocationGrand Hall G/H
General Sessions