This paper is based on a large questionnaire study. The
paper presents how all participants and subgroups (upper- and
lower-level white-collar workers) answered the question, “Have you
had an ache, pain, or numbness, which you associate with desktop
computer use, in the different body parts during the last 12 months?’
14.6% of participants (19.4% of women and 8.2% of men) reported
that they had often or very often physical symptoms in the neck. Even
if our results cannot prove a causal relation of symptoms with
computer use, show that workers believe that computer use can
influence their wellbeing: this is important when devising treatment
modalities to decrease these physical symptoms.
[1] European Agency for Safety and Health at Work: OSH in figures:
work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the EU-facts and figures.
European risk observatory report 2010.
(https://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/reports/TERO09009ENC/view)
[2] K. Kristel Oha, L. Animägi, M. Pääsuke, D. Coggon, and Merisalu E.
“Individual and work-related risk factors for musculoskeletal pain: a
cross-sectional study among Estonian computer users,” BMC
Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol. 15, p. 181, May 2014;
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/15/181
[3] A. Klussmann, H. Gebhardt, F. Liebers, and M. A. Rieger,
“Musculoskeletal symptoms of the upper extremities and the neck: a
cross-sectional study on prevalence and symptom-predicting factors at
visual display terminal workstations,” BMC Musculoskelet Disord, vol. 9,
pp. 1–16, June 2008.
[4] V. Woods, “Musculoskeletal disorders and visual strain in intensive data
processing workers,” Occup Med, vol. 55, pp. 121–127, 2005.
[5] P. Janwantanakul, P. Praneet, V. Jiamjarasrangsri, and T. Sinsongsook:
“Prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms among office
workers,” Occup Med, vol. 58, pp. 436–438, September 2008.
[6] J. Sillanpää, S. Huikko, M. Nyberg, P. Kivi, P. Laippala, and J. Uitti,
“Effect of work with visual display units on musculoskeletal disorders in
the office environment,” Occup Med, vol. 53, pp. 443–451, July 2003.
[7] A. Grimby-Ekman, E. Anderson, and M. Hagberg, “Analyzing
musculoskeletal neck pain, measured as present pain and periods of pain,
with three different regression models: A cohort study,” BMC
Musculoskelet Disord, vol. 10, no. 73, pp. 1–11, June 2009.
[8] S. Eltayeb, J. B. Staal, A. Hassan, and R. A. De Bie, “Work related risk
factors for neck, shoulder and arms complaints: à cohort study among
Dutch computer office workers,” J Rehabil, vol. 19, pp. 315–322,
December 2009.
[9] C. Jensen, C. U. Ryholt, H. Burr, E. Villadsen, and H. Christensen,
“Work-related psychosocial, physical and individual factors associated
with musculoskeletal symptoms in computer users,” Work Stress, vol. 16,
no. 2, pp. 107–120, 2002.
[10] B. R. Da Costa, and E. R. Viera, “Stretching to reduce work-related
musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review,” J Rehabil Med, vol. 40,
pp. 321–328, Month 2008.
[11] B. R. Da Costa, and E. R. Viera, Risk factors for work-related
musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review of recent longitudinal
studies,” Am J Ind Med, vol. 53, pp. 285–323, March 2010.
[12] D. Rempel, N. Krause, R. Goldberg, D. Benner, M. Hudes, and G. U.
Goldner, “A randomised controlled trial evaluating the effects of two
workstation interventions on upper body pain and incident
musculoskeletal disorders among computer operators,” Occup Environ
Med, vol. 63, pp. 300–306, May 2006.
[13] S. Esmaeilzadeh, E. Ozcan, and N. Capan, “Effects of ergonomic
intervention on work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders
among computer workers: A randomized controlled trial,” Int Arch Occup
Environ Health, vol. 87, pp. 73–83, January 2014.
[14] H. Yang, S. Haldeman, A. Nakata, et al. “Work-Related Risk Factors for
Neck Pain in the US Working Population“, SPINE, vol. 40, pp 184 – 192,
February, 2015.
[15] K. T. Palmer, K. Walker-Bone, M. J. Griffiin, et al. “Prevalence and
occupational associations of neck pain in the British population“. Scand J
Work Environ Health, vol. 27, 49–56, 2001.
[16] L. Korpinen, and R. Pääkkönen, “Mental symptoms and the use of new
technical equipment,” Int J Occup Safety and Erg, vol. 15, pp. 385–400,
2009.
[17] L. Korpinen, N. Suuronen, J. Latva-Teikari, and R. Pääkkönen, “A
questionnaire on the health effects of new technical equipment,” Int J Ind
Erg, vol. 39, pp. 105–114, January 2009.
[18] L. Korpinen, R. Pääkkönen, F. Gobba, “Self-reported neck symptoms and
use of personal computers, laptops, and cell phones among Finns aged
18-65,” Ergonomics, vol. 56, pp. 1134-1146, July 2013.
[19] M.-S. Kim, “Influence of neck pain on cervical movement in the sagittal
plane during smartphone use,” J. Phys. Ther. Sci., vol. 27, pp. 15–17, June
2015.
[20] J.-H. Park, J.-H. Kim, J.-G. Kim, K.-H. Kim, N.-H. Kim, I.-W. Choi, S.-J.
Lee, and J.-E Yim “The effects of heavy smartphone use on the cervical
angle, pain threshold of neck muscles and depression,” Advanced Science
and Technology Letters, vol. 91 (Bioscience and Medical Research), pp.
12–17, 2015; http://dx.doi.org/10.14257/astl.2015.91.03
[1] European Agency for Safety and Health at Work: OSH in figures:
work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the EU-facts and figures.
European risk observatory report 2010.
(https://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/reports/TERO09009ENC/view)
[2] K. Kristel Oha, L. Animägi, M. Pääsuke, D. Coggon, and Merisalu E.
“Individual and work-related risk factors for musculoskeletal pain: a
cross-sectional study among Estonian computer users,” BMC
Musculoskeletal Disorders, vol. 15, p. 181, May 2014;
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/15/181
[3] A. Klussmann, H. Gebhardt, F. Liebers, and M. A. Rieger,
“Musculoskeletal symptoms of the upper extremities and the neck: a
cross-sectional study on prevalence and symptom-predicting factors at
visual display terminal workstations,” BMC Musculoskelet Disord, vol. 9,
pp. 1–16, June 2008.
[4] V. Woods, “Musculoskeletal disorders and visual strain in intensive data
processing workers,” Occup Med, vol. 55, pp. 121–127, 2005.
[5] P. Janwantanakul, P. Praneet, V. Jiamjarasrangsri, and T. Sinsongsook:
“Prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms among office
workers,” Occup Med, vol. 58, pp. 436–438, September 2008.
[6] J. Sillanpää, S. Huikko, M. Nyberg, P. Kivi, P. Laippala, and J. Uitti,
“Effect of work with visual display units on musculoskeletal disorders in
the office environment,” Occup Med, vol. 53, pp. 443–451, July 2003.
[7] A. Grimby-Ekman, E. Anderson, and M. Hagberg, “Analyzing
musculoskeletal neck pain, measured as present pain and periods of pain,
with three different regression models: A cohort study,” BMC
Musculoskelet Disord, vol. 10, no. 73, pp. 1–11, June 2009.
[8] S. Eltayeb, J. B. Staal, A. Hassan, and R. A. De Bie, “Work related risk
factors for neck, shoulder and arms complaints: à cohort study among
Dutch computer office workers,” J Rehabil, vol. 19, pp. 315–322,
December 2009.
[9] C. Jensen, C. U. Ryholt, H. Burr, E. Villadsen, and H. Christensen,
“Work-related psychosocial, physical and individual factors associated
with musculoskeletal symptoms in computer users,” Work Stress, vol. 16,
no. 2, pp. 107–120, 2002.
[10] B. R. Da Costa, and E. R. Viera, “Stretching to reduce work-related
musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review,” J Rehabil Med, vol. 40,
pp. 321–328, Month 2008.
[11] B. R. Da Costa, and E. R. Viera, Risk factors for work-related
musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review of recent longitudinal
studies,” Am J Ind Med, vol. 53, pp. 285–323, March 2010.
[12] D. Rempel, N. Krause, R. Goldberg, D. Benner, M. Hudes, and G. U.
Goldner, “A randomised controlled trial evaluating the effects of two
workstation interventions on upper body pain and incident
musculoskeletal disorders among computer operators,” Occup Environ
Med, vol. 63, pp. 300–306, May 2006.
[13] S. Esmaeilzadeh, E. Ozcan, and N. Capan, “Effects of ergonomic
intervention on work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders
among computer workers: A randomized controlled trial,” Int Arch Occup
Environ Health, vol. 87, pp. 73–83, January 2014.
[14] H. Yang, S. Haldeman, A. Nakata, et al. “Work-Related Risk Factors for
Neck Pain in the US Working Population“, SPINE, vol. 40, pp 184 – 192,
February, 2015.
[15] K. T. Palmer, K. Walker-Bone, M. J. Griffiin, et al. “Prevalence and
occupational associations of neck pain in the British population“. Scand J
Work Environ Health, vol. 27, 49–56, 2001.
[16] L. Korpinen, and R. Pääkkönen, “Mental symptoms and the use of new
technical equipment,” Int J Occup Safety and Erg, vol. 15, pp. 385–400,
2009.
[17] L. Korpinen, N. Suuronen, J. Latva-Teikari, and R. Pääkkönen, “A
questionnaire on the health effects of new technical equipment,” Int J Ind
Erg, vol. 39, pp. 105–114, January 2009.
[18] L. Korpinen, R. Pääkkönen, F. Gobba, “Self-reported neck symptoms and
use of personal computers, laptops, and cell phones among Finns aged
18-65,” Ergonomics, vol. 56, pp. 1134-1146, July 2013.
[19] M.-S. Kim, “Influence of neck pain on cervical movement in the sagittal
plane during smartphone use,” J. Phys. Ther. Sci., vol. 27, pp. 15–17, June
2015.
[20] J.-H. Park, J.-H. Kim, J.-G. Kim, K.-H. Kim, N.-H. Kim, I.-W. Choi, S.-J.
Lee, and J.-E Yim “The effects of heavy smartphone use on the cervical
angle, pain threshold of neck muscles and depression,” Advanced Science
and Technology Letters, vol. 91 (Bioscience and Medical Research), pp.
12–17, 2015; http://dx.doi.org/10.14257/astl.2015.91.03
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:70559", author = "Leena Korpinen and Rauno Pääkkönen and Fabriziomaria Gobba", title = "Ergonomics Aspects of Work with Computers", abstract = "This paper is based on a large questionnaire study. The
paper presents how all participants and subgroups (upper- and
lower-level white-collar workers) answered the question, “Have you
had an ache, pain, or numbness, which you associate with desktop
computer use, in the different body parts during the last 12 months?’
14.6% of participants (19.4% of women and 8.2% of men) reported
that they had often or very often physical symptoms in the neck. Even
if our results cannot prove a causal relation of symptoms with
computer use, show that workers believe that computer use can
influence their wellbeing: this is important when devising treatment
modalities to decrease these physical symptoms.", keywords = "Ergonomics, work, computer, symptoms.", volume = "9", number = "9", pages = "3016-5", }
