Top

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Published in:

01-02-2012 | Original Article

Neck and shoulder complaints in computer workers and associated easy to assess occupational factors—a large-scale cross-sectional multivariate study

Authors: Philippe Kiss, Marc De Meester, André Kruse, Brigitte Chavée, Lutgart Braeckman

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 2/2012

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to identify easy to assess occupational factors that are associated with the presence of neck and shoulder complaints (NSC) in computer workers.

Methods

A total of 5,630 computer workers filled out a standardised questionnaire at the occasion of their periodical health examination. The dependent outcome variable was the one-year prevalence of neck and/or shoulder complaints. Following independent variables were considered in the analyses: age, gender, number of hours of computer work per week (both at work and at home), average time of uninterrupted computer work, screen position, position of documents, computer mouse use, forearm and separate wrist support, user friendly software and occupational psychosocial factors. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify those variables that contributed to the presence of NSC.

Results

Apart from gender and three psychosocial factors, following occupational factors were associated with NSC in computer workers: 25 h or more computer work per week, working more than 1 h on a computer without interruption, use of the computer mouse during half or more of the working time, reaching far for the computer mouse, insufficient space for the computer mouse, insufficient forearm support (less than 2/3 on table or no support) and the use of a separate wrist support.

Conclusions

The study enabled to identify several easy to assess occupational factors that were associated with NSC, providing clear cut-off points concerning duration of computer work. Use of the computer mouse, both duration and relative position, and forearm support were also important factors.

Aarås A, Fostervold KI, Ro O, Thoresen M, Larsen S (1997) Postural load during VDU work: a comparison between various work postures. Ergonomics 40:1255–1268CrossRef

Aarås A, Horgen G, Bjørset HH, Ro O, Walsøe H (2001) Musculoskeletal, visual and psychosocial stress in VDU operators before and after multidisciplinary ergonomic interventions. A 6 years prospective study—part II. Appl Ergon 32:559–571CrossRef

Andersen JH, Harhoff M, Grimstrup S, Vilstrup I, Lassen CF, Brandt LPA, Kryger AI, Overgaard E, Hansen KD, Mikkelsen S (2008) Computer mouse use predicts acute pain but not prolonged or chronic pain in the neck and shoulder. Occup Environ Med 65:126–131CrossRef

Ariëns GAM, Bongers PM, Douwes M, Miedema MC, Hoogendoorn WE, van der Wal G, Bouter LM, van Mechelen W (2001a) Are neck flexion, neck rotation, and sitting at work risk factors for neck pain? Results of a prospective cohort study. Occup Environ Med 58:200–207CrossRef

Ariëns GAM, van Mechelen W, Bongers PM, Bouter LM, van der Wal G (2001b) Psychosocial risk factors for neck pain: a systematic review. Am J Ind Med 39:180–193CrossRef

Blatter BM, Bongers PM (2002) Duration of computer use and mouse use in relation to musculoskeletal disorders of neck or upper limb. Int J Ind Ergon 30:295–306CrossRef

Bongers PM, Ijmker S, van den Heuvel S, Blatter BM (2006) Epidemiology of work related neck and upper limb problems: psychosocial and personal risk factors (Part I) and effective interventions from a bio behavioural perspective (Part II). J Occup Rehabil 16:279–302CrossRef

Brandt LPA, Andersen JH, Lassen CF, Kryger A, Overgaard E, Vilstrup I, Mikkelsen S (2004) Neck and shoulder symptoms and disorders among Danish computer workers. Scand J Work Environ Health 30:399–409CrossRef

Checkoway H, Pearce N, Kriebel D (2004) Research methods in occupational epidemiology, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, New YorkCrossRef

Cook C, Burgess-Limerick R (2004) The effect of forearm support on musculoskeletal discomfort during call centre work. Appl Ergon 35:337–342CrossRef

Cook C, Burgess-Limerick R, Chang S (2000) The prevalence of neck and upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms in computer mouse users. Int J Ind Ergon 26:347–356CrossRef

Cook C, Burgess-Limerick R, Papaliac S (2004) The effect of upper extremity support on upper extremity posture and muscle activity during keyboard use. Appl Ergon 35:285–292CrossRef

Demure B, Luippold RS, Bigelow C, Ali D, Mundt KA, Liese B (2000) Video display terminal workstation improvement program: I. Baseline associations between musculoskeletal discomfort and ergonomic features of workstations. J Occup Environ Med 42:783–791CrossRef

Ekman A, Andersson A, Hagberg M, Hjelm EW (2000) Gender differences in musculoskeletal health of computer and mouse users in the Swedish workforce. Occup Med 50:608–613

Eltayeb S, Staal BJ, Hassan A, de Bie RA (2009) Work related risk factors for neck, shoulder and arms complaints: a cohort study among Dutch computer office workers. J Occup Rehabil 19:315–322CrossRef

Fostervold KI (2003) VDU work with downward gaze: the emperor’s new clothes or scientifically sound? Int J Ind Ergon 31:161–167CrossRef

Fostervold KI, Aarås A, Lie I (2006) Work with visual display units: long-term health effects of high and downward line-of-sight in ordinary office environments. Int J Ind Ergon 36:331–343CrossRef

Gerr F, Marcus M, Monteilh C (2004) Epidemiology of musculoskeletal disorders among computer users: lesson learned from the role of posture and keyboard use. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 14:25–31CrossRef

Hagberg M, Vilhemsson R, Tornqvist EW, Toomingas A (2007) Incidence of self-reported reduced productivity owing to musculoskeletal symptoms: association with workplace and individual factors among computer users. Ergonomics 50:1820–1834CrossRef

Hannan LM, Monteilh CP, Gerr F, Kleinbaum DG, Marcus M (2005) Job strain and risk of musculoskeletal symptoms among a prospective cohort of occupational computer users. Scand J Work Environ Health 31:375–386CrossRef

Heinrich J, Blatter BM, Bongers PM (2004) A comparison of methods for the assessment of postural load and duration of computer use. Occup Environ Med 61:1027–1031CrossRef

Helland M, Horgen G, Kvikstad TM, Garthus T, Bruenech JR, Aarås A (2008) Musculoskeletal, visual and psychosocial stress in VDU operators after moving to an ergonomically designed office landscape. Appl Ergon 39:284–295CrossRef

Holtermann A, Hansen JV, Burr H, Søgaard K (2010) Prognostic factors for long-term sickness absence among employees with neck–shoulder and low-back pain. Scand J Work Environ Health 36:34–41CrossRef

Homan MM, Armstrong TJ (2003) Evaluation of three methodologies for assessing work activity during computer usage. AIHA 64:48–55CrossRef

IJmker S, Huysmans MA, van der Beek AJ, Knol DL, van Mechelen W, Bongers PM, Blatter BM (2010) Software-recorded and self-reported duration of computer use in relation to the onset of severe arm-wrist-hand pain and neck-shoulder pain. Occup Environ Med (Epub ahead of print). doi:10.1136/oem.2010.056267

Jensen C, Finsen L, Søgaard K, Christensen H (2002) Musculoskeletal symptoms and duration of computer and mouse use. Int J Ind Ergon 30:265–275CrossRef

Juul-Kristensen B, Jensen C (2005) Self-reported workplace related ergonomic conditions as prognostic factors for musculoskeletal symptoms: the ‘‘BIT’’ follow up study on office workers. Occup Environ Med 62:188–194CrossRef

Karlqvist L, Tornqvista EW, Hagberg M, Hagman M, Toomingas A (2002) Self-reported working conditions of VDU operators and associations with musculoskeletal symptoms: a cross-sectional study focussing on gender differences. Int J Ind Ergon 30:277–294CrossRef

Korhonen T, Ketola R, Toivonen R, Luukkonen R, Häkkänen M, Viikari-Juntura E (2003) Work related and individual predictors for incident neck pain among office employees working with video display units. Occup Environ Med 60:475–482CrossRef

Kristensen TS, Hannerz H, Høgh A, Borg V (2005) The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ). A tool for the assessment and improvement of the psychosocial work environment. Scand J Work Environ Health 31:438–449CrossRef

Kuorinka I, Jonsson B, Kilbom A, Vinterberg H, Biering-Sørensen F, Andersson G, Jørgensen K (1987) Standardised Nordic questionnaire for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon 18:233–237CrossRef

Marcus M, Gerr F, Monteilh C, Ortiz DJ, Gentry E, Cohen S, Edwards A, Ensor C, Kleinbaum D (2002) A prospective study of computer users: II. Postural risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders. Am J Ind Med 41:236–249CrossRef

Mikkelsen S, Vilstrup I, Lassen CF, Kryger AI, Thomsen JF, Andersen JH (2007) Validity of questionnaire self-reports on computer, mouse and keyboard usage during a four-week period. Occup Environ Med 64:541–547CrossRef

Nordlund A, Ekberg K (2004) Self reported musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck/shoulders and/or arms and general health (SF-36): eight year follow up of a case-control study. Occup Environ Med 61:e11CrossRef

Rempel DM, Krause N, Goldberg R, Benner D, Hudes M, Goldner GU (2006) A randomised controlled trial evaluating the effects of two workstation interventions on upper body pain and incident musculoskeletal disorders among computer operators. Occup Environ Med 63:300–306CrossRef

Sillanpää J, Huikko S, Nyberg M, Kivi P, Laippala P, Uitti J (2003) Effect of work with visual display units on musculo-skeletal disorders in the office environment. Occup Med 53:443–451CrossRef

Svensson HF, Svensson OK (2001) The influence of the viewing angle on neck-load during work with video display units. J Rehabil Med 33:133–136CrossRef

van den Heuvel SG, IJmker S, Blatter BM, de Korte EM (2007) Loss of productivity due to neck/shoulder symptoms and hand/arm symptoms: results from the PROMO-study. J Occup Rehabil 17:370–382CrossRef

Visser B, de Korte E, van der Kraan I, Kuijer P (2000) The effect of arm and wrist supports on the load of the upper extremity during VDU work. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 15(1):S34–S38

Wahlström J, Hagberg M, Toomingas A, Wigaeus Tornqvist E (2004) Perceived muscular tension, job strain, physical exposure, and associations with neck pain among VDU users; a prospective cohort study. Occup Environ Med 61:523–528CrossRef

Ye Z, Abe Y, Kusano Y, Takamura N, Eida K, Takemoto T, Aoyagi K (2007) The influence of visual display terminal use on the physical and mental conditions of administrative staff in Japan. J Physiol Anthropol 26:69–73CrossRef

Title: Neck and shoulder complaints in computer workers and associated easy to assess occupational factors—a large-scale cross-sectional multivariate study
Authors: Philippe Kiss
Marc De Meester
André Kruse
Brigitte Chavée
Lutgart Braeckman
Publication date: 01-02-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 2/2012
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0645-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Neck and shoulder complaints in computer workers and associated easy to assess occupational factors—a large-scale cross-sectional multivariate study

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 2/2012

Impaired work functioning due to common mental disorders in nurses and allied health professionals: the Nurses Work Functioning Questionnaire

Effort-reward imbalance and depression among private practice physicians

The persistence of allergen exposure favors pulmonary function decline in workers with allergic occupational asthma

Physiological work demands of Spanish wildland firefighters during wildfire suppression

Association between effort–reward imbalance and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among Chinese workers: results from SHISO study

Lung and pleural CT signs predict deaths: 10-year follow-up after lung cancer screening of asbestos-exposed workers