Objectives Use of computer keyboards has been linked with musculoskeletal disorders, especially of the wrist and hand. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and associated disability in video terminal operators (VTOs) in Brazil as part of the multi-national CUPID study.

Methods The target population comprised 300 VTOs at an informatics centre in Curitiba, Brazil. Data on musculoskeletal symptoms, associated disability and risk factors were collected using the Portuguese translation of the standardised CUPID questionnaire.

Results Among 284 (94.7%) VTOs who agreed to participate in the study, the large majority were women (79.1%), and 28.7% were less than 41 years old. 32.6% were current smokers. Most participants reported pain in the past month at several anatomical sites, with high prevalence rates for individual sites - back (71.5%), neck (77.6%), shoulder (83.8%). elbow (84.9%), wrist/hand (72.1%), and knee (74.3%). Despite the high prevalence of pain,only 13.5% of workers had been absent from work in the past year because of musculoskeletal complaints.

Conclusions The frequency of reported musculoskeletal pain among VTOs was very high at all anatomical sites the body, despite laws that aim to protect this group of workers from musculoskeletal injury.