Knowledge of computer ergonomics and incidence of musculoskeletal disorders among students of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
Abstract
Each year, thousands of individuals are diagnosed with an illness directly related to poorly designed workstations, and among these are Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). MSDs are the repeated trauma and deterioration of the tissues, joint, tendons, and nerves that affect the muscles and supporting structures of the body, caused by the work nature or by an employee’s working environment (Bernard 1997). The prevalence of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD‘s) is increasing among Computer users throughout the world. Approximately 76% of Computer professionals from India reported musculoskeletal discomfort in various epidemiological studies. So, the present study was undertaken to study computer/laptop use pattern and knowledge of related ergonomic practices among students of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, India and to assess the prevalence and magnitude of computer/laptop use related MSDs among students. 120 students pursuing post-graduation were selected randomly from the four different disciplines namely College of Agriculture, College of Agriculture Engineering and Technology, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities and College of Home Science of PAU. Results revealed that majority of the respondents were in the age group of 26-27 years. They were using computer/laptop for 3-4 years, for 3-4 hours daily and they used to sit in bed while working on computer/laptop. Majority of the respondents had some knowledge about the importance of work behavior while using computer/laptop. Most of the total respondents felt pain in the neck (88.32%), lower back (75.00%), mid back (73.33%) and upper back (72.50%) while working on computer/laptop. Overall bodily fatigue or tiredness, shoulder or back pain/stiffness and headache during or after working on the computer were the major symptoms as reported by respondents
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Body pain, Body posture, Computer, Ergonomics, Musculoskeletal disorders
Ardahan, M., and Simsek, H. (2016). Analyzing musculoskeletal system discomforts and risk factors in computer-using office workers. Pak J Med Sci.32(6):1425-1429.
Ariens, G.A., Bongers, P.M. and Douwes, M. (2001). Are Neck Flexion, Neck Rotation, and Sitting at Work Risk Factors for Neck Pain? Results of a Prospective Cohort Study.Occupational Environmental Medicine.58:200-207. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1740110
Arun Vijay, S. (2013). Work-related Musculo-skeletal Health Problems among the Information Technology Professionals in India: A Prevalence Study. International Journal of Management Research and Business Strategy.2(2):118-127.
Bernard, B.P. (1997). Musculoskeletal Disorders and Workplace Factors: A Critical Review of Epidemiologic Evidence for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Neck, Upper Extremity, and Low Back. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/97-141/pdfs/97-141.pdf
Benz, L.N. (1995). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome measurement and surveillance management.The comprehensive guide to work injury management, Gaithersburg, Md, Aspen.
Bhanderi, D., Choudhary, S., Parmar, L. and Doshi, V. (2007). Influence of psychosocial workplace factors on occurrence of musculoskeletal discomfort in computer operators. Indian J Community Med.32:225-226.
Bakhtiar, C.S. and Vijaya, R.S. (2003). Attitude Alters the Risk for Development of RSI in Software Professionals. Indian J Occup.Env Med. 7:7 – 10.
Connelly, L.B., Woolf, A. and Brooks, P. (2006)."Cost-Effectiveness of Interventions for
Musculo -skeletal Conditions." Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd ed. Geneva:World Bank.
Chim, J.M.Y. (2014). Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders of Computer Users in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. J Ergonomics S4: 004. doi:10.4172/2165-7556.S4-004
Corlett, E.N. (2006). Background to sitting at work: research requirements for the design of work seats. Ergon.49:1538-46.
Dutta, N., Koepp, G.A., Stovitz, S.D., Levine, J.A. and Pereira, M.A. (2014). Using sit-stand workstations to decrease sedentary time in office workers: a randomized crossover trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health.11(7):6653-6665.
Elisjistom, C. and Nachemson, A. (1970).Fitting the task to the Man. Applied Ergon.8: 87-88.
Gerret, F., Marcus, M. and Ensor, C. (2002). A Prospective Study of Computer Users: Study Design and Incidence of Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Disorders. American J of Industrial Med.41: 221-235. Retrieved from http://www.eurooffice.com/download/A%20prospective%20study%20of%20computer%20users%20I.pdf
Glenn, B. (1995). “Why working Today can be such a pain”. BCS News. Pp 1-4.
Grandjean, Laubi and Hunting (1981). Postural and Visual loads at VDT workplaces. 15: 10-12.
Hameed, P.S. (2013). Prevalence Of Work Related Low Back Pain Among The Information Technology Professionals In India – A Cross Sectional Study. Int J Scientific & Technology Res. 2(7): 80-85.
Health and Safety Executive. Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorder (WRMSDs) Statistics, Great Britain; 2015 (cited: 2016 January 21). Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/ statistics/causdis/musculoskeletal/msd.pdf.
Henning, R.A., Jacques, P., Kissel, G.V., Sullivan, A.B. and Alteras-Webb, S.M. (1997). Frequent short rest breaks from computer work: Effects on productivity and wellbeing at two field sites. Ergon.40:78-91.
Joshi, P. (2006). A Study on Biomechanical Problems of Homemakers Relating to Existing Storage Spaces in the Houses. MSc Thesis, Unpublished. Ludhiana:Punjab Agricultural University.
Karsh, B., Moro, F.B.P., Smith, M.J. (2001). The efficacy of workplace ergonomic interventions to control musculoskeletal disorders: A critical examination of the peer-reviewed literature. Theoret Issues Ergon Sci.2: 3-96.
Khalil and Rosemoff, H. (1993). Ergonomics in Back pain, a guide to prevention and rehabilitation. Pp 10-12.
Khan, R., Surti, A., Rehman, R. and Ali, U. (2012).Knowledge and practices of ergonomics in computer users.J Pak Med Assoc.62(3):213-17.
Kumah, D.B., Akuffo, K.O., Affram, D.E., Ankamah, E., and Osae, E.A. (2016). Ergonomic Challenges of Employees Using Computers at Work in a Tertiary Institution in Ghana. Optom open access 1: 107.doi:10.4172/2476-2075.1000107.
Luis, O-H., Silvia, T-G., Susana, M-A.and Ignacio, M-R. (2003). Computer use increases the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among newspapers office workers. Arch Med Res. 34(4): 331-42.
Mehrparvar, A.H., Heydari, M., Mirmohammadi, S.J., Mostaghaci, M., Davari, M.H. and Taheri, M. (2014). Ergonomic intervention, workplace exercises and musculoskeletal complaints: a comparative study. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 28:69.
Mirmohammadi, S.J., Mehrparvar, A.H., Olia, M.B. and Mirmohammadi, M. (2012). Effects of training intervention on non-ergonomic positions among video display terminals (VDT) users. Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment and Rehabilitation. 42(3): 429-33.
Oha, K., Animagi, L., Paasuke, M., Coggon, D. and Merisalu, E. (2014). Individual and work-related risk factors for musculoskeletal pain: a cross-sectional study among Estonian computer users. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2014;15:181-185.
Piranveyseh, P., Motamedzade, M., Osatuke, K., Mohammadfam, I., Moghimbeigi, A. and Soltanzadeh, A. (2016). Association between psychosocial, organizational and personal factors and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in office workers. Int J Occup Safety Ergon. 22(2):267-273.
Padma, V., Anand, N.N., Swaminatha Gurukul, S.M.G., Syed Mohammed Javid, S.M.A., Prasad, A. and Arun, S. (2015). Health problems and stress in Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing employees. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 7(1): 9–13. doi: 10.4103/0975-7406.155764
Pope, M.H., Goh, K.L. and Magnusson, M.L. (2002).Spine ergonomics.Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering.4:49–68.
Shantakumari, N., Eldeeb, R.A., Sreedharan, J. and Gopal, K. (2012). GMJ, 4th Annual Scientific Meeting of Gulf Medical University Poster Proceedings. Pp: 11-14.
Sharma, A., Khera, S., and Khandekar, J. (2006). Computer related health problems among information technology professionals in Delhi. Indian J Community Med.31: 36 –38.
Sheedy, J.E. (1992). “Vision Problems at video display terminals: A survey of optometrists”. J. Am. Optom. Assoc.63(10): 687-692.
Stuart, Carol (1995). “Workplace Ergonomics”. Ergonomics Alexandra; 10:1
Talwar, R., Kapoor, R., Puri, K., Bansal, K., and Singh, S. (2009). A Study of Visual and Musculoskeletal Health Disorders among Computer Professionals in NCR Delhi.Indian J Community Med.34: 326 – 328.
Ulusam, S., Kurt, M. and Dülgeroglu, D. (2015). Bilgisayar kullananlarda birikimli travma bozukluklar? (Cumulative trauma disorders in computer-users). Mesleki Saglik ve Güvenlik Dergisi (J Turk Occupatinal Health Safety). 2(6):26-32.
Verghese, M.A., Atreya, N. and Bhatnagar, A. (1996). Ergonomic Studies in India. Tech Bull PG Department ofFamily Resource Management. Mumbai: SNDT Women’s University, pp. 26-44.
This work is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) © Author (s)
