Occupational overuse syndrome (technological diseases): carpal tunnel syndrome, a mouse shoulder, cervical pain syndrome

Computer-usage and associated musculoskeletal discomfort in college students

BACKGROUND: High use of computers among college students and the resulting musculoskeletal disorders raises concerns regarding healthy usage patterns. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine college student’s computer usage and related musculoskeletal discomfort. METHODS: A sample of 338 college students completed a cross-sectional survey consisting of demographic questions, musculoskeletal discomfort indicators and questions regarding computer use. RESULTS: The sample included 232 (68.6%) females and 106 (31.3%) males. 61% students had reported discomfort during or after working using computers with greatest discomfort in the neck (68.5%) and lower back (66%). Female students were more likely than male students to report any musculoskeletal discomfort (66% vs 51%), p < .05. Sitting duration, awkward postures and length of time (more than eight hours) were significantly associated with musculoskeletal discomfort (R2 = 0.24, p < .01). CONCLUSION: Most female college students reported musculoskeletal discomfort during or after computer use. Daily use of computer for more than eight hours, assuming awkward postures and sitting for long duration without breaks were found to be significantly related to musculoskeletal discomfort. Emphasizing good computing habits in college students to avoid musculoskeletal symptoms in the future will prevent morbidity in future workforce.

A qualitative study of health information-seeking behavior on the Internet among information technology professionals

BACKGROUND

The motivation to seek health information on the Internet for individuals has been varied. The purpose of this paper was to explore the perspectives and experiences about online health information seeking in information technology (IT) professionals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A qualitative case study research design was employed to examine the behavior of 15 IT professionals from a state organization in the East Coast of the United States of America. Convenience sampling was used to identify the setting, and purposeful sampling was used to select the participants. A survey questionnaire was used as a recruitment tool, and in-depth individual interviews with standardized semi-structured questions were used to collect data.

RESULTS

Findings illustrated that the Internet was the first source of reference for wellness and prevention information to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to alleviate and prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The themes that emerged from the study were that the IT professionals searched the Internet for information to self-educate about medical conditions, to maintain fitness, communicate with health-care professionals, decide their treatment options, and to make lifestyle modifications such as ergonomic adjustment of their workstation, postural adjustments, and changing negative health behaviors.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study provide practical implications for organizations and health professionals in providing health education to prevent WMSDs as participants sought health information online to take actions and collaborate with their health-care professionals and actively contributed to their medical health decisions. This underscores a valuable opportunity for health-care providers and public health officials to become more proactive by providing their patients with quality health information outside their office through the Internet by referring them to credible website sources.

Occupational physical and emotional fitness

Sports medicine is a wide field of knowledge with a focus on the physical and psychological aspects of individuals; unfortunately, it is not well-known among occupational therapy practitioners. If at all, it is focused on exercise therapy for physical injuries and pain. We agree there are many types of physical pain and injuries among workers in different occupations, but not all that pain is related to physical overuse. Recently, new recommendations were presented by the American College of Sports Medicine highlighting particularly the psychological aspects of occupational emotional fitness. However, there is very little research about the concurrent effects of cost-effective packages of therapy for occupational emotional and physical fitness. Accordingly, this commentary reviews the occupational physical and emotional fitness aspects of sports medicine. In addition, this work makes suggestions to examine packages and protocols of physical and emotional fitness, with therapeutic targets for occupational cultures in different societies for employees and employers.

Low back pain and obesity

Introduction:

Low back pain poses a significant problem in clinics and public health. It presents one of the main problems with adults, since 70-80% of adults experience it at least once in their lifetime. Causes of the low back pain are numerous and often unknown.

Objectives:

The aim of the study is to find the most prevalent age group, pain localisation, and the frequency of physical therapy sessions in obese and non-obese subjects with LBP.

Materials and Methods:

The study has been conducted by the Physical Rehabilitation Service of the Occupational Medicine Institute, during one year period. The total number of patients studied was 101 and all were Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEC) employees. The study was retrospective.

Results:

Looking at the body weight index, out of 101 patients, 69.3% are classified as non-obese and 30.7% as obese. Using T-Test we have found a difference of high statistical significance between the average number of the physical therapy sessions applied in relation to the examined groups (T-Test=2.78, P=0.0065, so, P<0.01).

Conclusion:

Obesity and age have no direct influence in back pain, but they could prolong healing. Professional occupation and binding position are factors that affect back pain. Physical workload can cause the manifestation of sciatica; whereas psycho-social factors can prolong the overall healing process.