Most of us have enjoyed the tremendous conveniences and resources that computers offer, but our frequent computer use has also resulted in some serious side effects.
In a study published this spring, researchers at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta suggest that neck and shoulder pain and stiffness, as well as other medical disorders linked to these symptoms, are more common among computer users than previously thought.
According to lead researcher, Dr. Frederic Gerr, more than half of computer users each year develop neck or shoulder symptoms, and just over a third develop some type of long-term and permanent impairment or loss of some function such as decreased range of motion in the neck or nerve compression.
There is some positive news, however. Older studies initially indicated that carpal-tunnel syndrome (a condition where a person experiences hand tingling, numbness, pain and in some cases extreme weakness) occurred in epidemic proportions among computer users. But newer studies like the one conducted at Emory suggest that the contribution of computer use to this condition was exaggerated in earlier research.
The Emory study, published earlier this year in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, included 632 men and women who had just been hired in jobs requiring 15 or more hours per week of computer use. The study participants were instructed to record their work practices and symptoms in daily diaries for three years. Those who reported symptoms were evaluated by clinicians who determined whether there was real evidence of a physical injuries.
As expected, hand and arm problems were the most common areas of complaint. Among computer users participating in the study, nearly 40 percent developed hand or arm symptoms each year and 21 percent actually developed a medical disorder. Those who typed the most (20 hours per week or more) were more than twice as likely than those who typed less to develop a related symptom or disorder.
Vast research has gone into making recommendations into reducing these injuries. While experts may differ in their specific suggestions, there are some areas in which almost all agree. They recommend that the computer keyboard be at a height that allows the computer-user’s elbows to be parallel to the floor (90 degrees). Users should also adjust the monitor (or their chair) so that the computer screen is directly in front of them and their head remains almost vertical. The chair should be height-adjustable, so that the back of the knee is slightly higher than the seat of the chair, and the keyboard and mouse should be close to the body. Screens should be on a base that allows them to swivel up and down to meet the height requirements of the user for a comfortable viewing angle.
The key with all of these recommendations is comfort. Simple modifications to your workstation can help you avoid those nagging neck and shoulder aches as well as hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of missed work. That might help you convince the boss to pay a little more for a more comfy, ergonomic chair.
