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Does computer use affect the incidence of distal arm pain? A one-year prospective study using objective measures of computer use

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Abstract

Purpose

To study how objectively recorded mouse and keyboard activity affects distal arm pain among computer workers.

Methods

Computer activities were recorded among 2,146 computer workers. For 52 weeks mouse and keyboard time, sustained activity, speed and micropauses were recorded with a software program installed on the participants’ computers. Participants reported weekly pain scores via the software program for elbow, forearm and wrist/hand as well as in a questionnaire at baseline and 1-year follow up. Associations between pain development and computer work were examined for three pain outcomes: acute, prolonged and chronic pain.

Results

Mouse time, even at low levels, was associated with acute pain in a similar way for all the examined regions. There were no exposure–response threshold patterns. Keyboard time had no effect. Mouse and keyboard sustained activity, speed and micropauses were not risk factors for acute pain, nor did they modify the effects of mouse or keyboard time. Computer usage parameters were not associated with prolonged or chronic pain. A major limitation of the study was low keyboard times.

Conclusion

Computer work was not related to the development of prolonged or chronic pain. Mouse time was associated with acute distal arm pain, but the impact was quite small.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Danish Association of Professional Technicians for useful assistance and the study participants for their time and effort. The study was supported by grant 9801292 from the Danish Medical Research Council and grant 20000010486 from the Danish Ministry of Employment, National Work Environment Authority.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg, Bispebjerg Bakke, 2450, Copenhagen NV, Denmark

    Sigurd Mikkelsen, Christina Funch Lassen, Ann Isabel Kryger & Jane Frølund Thomsen

  2. Danish Ramazzini Centre, Department of Occupational Medicine, Herning Hospital, Gammel Landevej 61, 7400, Herning, Denmark

    Imogen Vilstrup & Johan Hviid Andersen

  3. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000, Odense C, Denmark

    Lars Peter Andreas Brandt

  4. Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1014, Copenhagen K, Denmark

    Mette Gerster & Søren Grimstrup

Authors
  1. Sigurd Mikkelsen
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  2. Christina Funch Lassen
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  3. Imogen Vilstrup
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  4. Ann Isabel Kryger
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  9. Johan Hviid Andersen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sigurd Mikkelsen.

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Mikkelsen, S., Lassen, C.F., Vilstrup, I. et al. Does computer use affect the incidence of distal arm pain? A one-year prospective study using objective measures of computer use. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 85, 139–152 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0648-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0648-1

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