Undergraduate college students' upper extremity symptoms and functional limitations related to computer use: a replication study

PURPOSE: 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. SUBJECTS AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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