title: Undergraduate college students' upper extremity symptoms and functional limitations related to computer use: a replication study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To replicate Hupert et al.'s [5] evaluation of computer-related upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms, functional limitations, academic performance impact, medication use and health services utilization among a college student population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of undergraduate students living in a single residential dormitory at a private southwestern university who agreed to participate completed the College Computing & Health Survey in the Spring of 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 127 dormitory residents, 116 students participated and 54% reported experiencing symptoms associated with computer usage. Sixty-two percent of students surveyed experienced functional limitations. More women than men reported symptoms, functional limitations and neck and shoulder pain; those with functional limitations reported higher use of medications than other participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings, which match the general findings of the previous research study conducted with the same instrument but in a different college student population, suggest a high level of computer-use-related musculoskeletal symptoms among college students. Universities may want to consider providing ergonomic training designed for college students to: conduct workstation assessments; identify computer related problems (risk factors); and, propose ergonomic solutions.
authors.affiliation: Student Health Services, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Cammie Chaumont
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Menéndez
authors.forename: Benjamin C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Amick
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tullar
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hupert
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Jeffrey N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015206:Southwestern United States; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014584:User-Computer Interface