Document Detail


Computer use patterns associated with upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18204927     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
INTRODUCTION: Over half of surveyed college students are experiencing pain they are attributing to computer use. The study objective was to evaluate the effect of computing patterns on upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms.
METHODS: Symptom experiences and computing/break patterns were reported several times daily over three weeks for 30 undergraduate students over a semester. Two-level logistic regression models described the daily association between each computing pattern and both any and moderate or greater symptom experienced, adjusting for covariates.
RESULTS: The associations between most computing/break patterns and experiencing any symptoms were positive: total hours of computer use adjOR = 1.1 (90% CI 1.1-1.2), 1-2 breaks versus none adjOR = 1.3 (90% CI 0.9-1.9), 3-6 breaks versus none adjOR = 1.5 (90% CI 1.1-2.2), >15 min break versus none adjOR = 1.6 (90% CI 1.1-2.2), and number of stretch breaks adjOR = 1.3 (90% CI 1.1-1.5). However, breaks for less than 15 min were negatively associated with experiencing any symptoms: adjOR = 0.6 (90% CI 0.5-0.9). The associations between most computing/break patterns and experiencing moderate or greater symptoms were positive: total hours of computer use OR = 1.1 (90% CI 1.1-1.2), 1-2 breaks and 5-6 breaks versus none OR = 1.8 (90% CI 1.1-2.9), 7-8 breaks versus none OR = 2.0 (1.0-4.2), >15 min break versus none 1.8 (1.1-3.1), and number of stretch breaks OR = 1.3 (1.0-1.5).
CONCLUSION: Computing/break patterns were consistently associated with experiencing symptoms. Our findings suggest evaluating breaks with computing duration (computing patterns) is more informative than assessing computing duration alone and can be used to better design ergonomic training programs for student populations that incorporate break times.
Authors:
Cammie Chaumont Menéndez; Benjamin C Amick; Che-Hsu Joe Chang; Jack T Dennerlein; Ronald B Harrist; Mark Jenkins; Michelle Robertson; Jeffrey N Katz
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.     Date:  2008-01-18
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of occupational rehabilitation     Volume:  18     ISSN:  1053-0487     ISO Abbreviation:  J Occup Rehabil     Publication Date:  2008 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-05-15     Completed Date:  2008-09-30     Revised Date:  2012-05-18    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9202814     Medline TA:  J Occup Rehabil     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  166-74     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA. CMenendez@cdc.gov
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Computers*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Incidence
Logistic Models
Male
Musculoskeletal Diseases / epidemiology*
Upper Extremity*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
K24 AR002123/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS; K24 AR002123-08/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS; T42CCT610417//PHS HHS

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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