title: Upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and functional impairment associated with computer use among college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Occupational computer use has been associated with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders among working-age adults, but little is known about computer-related musculoskeletal problems among college students. We carried out a descriptive epidemiological study of computer use-associated symptoms, functional limitations, and medication and health care utilization in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey of 240 undergraduates in the second through fourth years at a residential dormitory at a four-year college with random housing assignments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  194 students returned useable surveys (81% response rate). 42% reported upper extremity pain or discomfort when using a computer in the preceding two weeks. 41% said this pain or discomfort caused functional limitation and 9% said that these symptoms hindered academic or extracurricular performance. 23% reported taking medications for upper extremity pain related to computing (4% regularly) and 16% had seen a health care provider for computer-related symptoms. Female students, students of racial/ethnic minority groups, and students who experienced symptoms with < or = 1 hour of computer use were more likely to report symptom-related functional limitation than others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  College students report high rates of computer use-associated upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and symptom-related functional limitation. Future studies should more closely examine exposure, demographic, and ergonomic correlates of these symptoms and outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Division of Outcomes and Effectiveness Research, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, NY, USA. nah2005@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hupert
authors.forename: Benjamin C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Amick
authors.forename: Anne H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Fossel
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Coley
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Jeffrey N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003201:Computers; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D013334:Students; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology