Frequency of Musculoskeletal and Eye Symptoms among Computer Users at Work

Abstract

Frequency of Musculoskeletal and Eye Symptoms among Computer Users at WorkComputer users most often complain of the eye and locomotor system disorders. The goal of this paper was to find out the frequency and relation between musculoskeletal and eye symptoms among computer workers.The data on musculoskeletal and eye symptoms were provided by two questionnaires. Forty-nine workers were included in the study. Their mean age was 41 years and average length of service 16 years. The average amount of time they spent in front of computers was 6.73 hours per day. Women spent more time working at a computer per day than men (P=0.025). The most frequent complaint in the past year referred to the upper back pain (30.6 % of the workers). Every fourth worker, i.e. 24.5 % of them experienced neck pain in the past year; women more often than men (P=0.024). A health problem which reduced the range of motion and prompted the workers to ask for sick leave was lower back pain. The relation between eye symptoms and the upper back pain experienced in the past year (P=0.004), and in the last week (P=0.031) was statistically significant.Proper exercises for stretching musculoskeletal system, ergonomic computer equipment, and artificial tears could decrease muscular and eye problems, which in turn could enhance productivity and reduce sick leaves.