Impact of Personal Computer Use on Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Middle and High School Students

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There are few studies on the musculoskeletal syndromes from PC use in teenagers. This study investigates the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and its risk factors in school age teenagers who spend time using personal computer with the purpose of preventing such condition. METHODS: The field study was conducted from January to March 2001 at seven PC Bangs in Kimchun. Three hundred twelve teenagers participated in the study. A questionnaire survey was done on how many hours of computer use in a day, their posture, and degree and site of musculoskeletal pain. A physician examined the pressure point around the neck and shoulder and measured the angle of neck, height of the elbow, inner angle of the elbow, angle of the wrist, the distance between the eyes and the monitor while using the computer. RESULTS: The average duration of computer use was 48.1 21.8 months. The average time spent on computer per day was 4.9 1.9 hours. The prevalence of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) was 36.5% at the neck and shoulder. There was a statistically significant relationship between school grade and the prevalence of MPS at the neck and shoulder (P<0.05). Odds ratio of MPS between middle and high school students was 1.67 at the neck and shoulder (95% C.I 1.02~2.74). The posture of computer use were not related to the musculoskeletal symptoms. However, there was a significant positive relationship between the average height of elbow and the prevalence of MPS at the neck and shoulder (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found that posture of computer use and average time spent on computer was related to MPS, assuming that MPS could be increased by those factors. In order to prevent teenagers from MPS resulting from prolonged use of computer, it is essential to fit the desk and chair to their body configuration and instruct them to keep proper posture for computer use.