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PAPERS: Paula Hakala, Arja Rimpelä, Jouko J Salminen, Suvi M Virtanen, and Matti Rimpelä Back, neck, and shoulder pain in Finnish adolescents: national cross sectional surveys BMJ 2002; 325: 743 [Abstract] [Full text]

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Back problems due to computers?

Shahir Kassam-Adams   (7 October 2002)

Computers and long-sightedness.

Phillip J. Colquitt   (8 October 2002)

Increases in musculoskelatal pain is multifaceted

Kenneth H. Moger   (7 July 2003)

Back problems due to computers? 7 October 2002
Shahir Kassam-Adams, Management Consultant Philadelphia, PA 19144-4430 Send response to journal: Re: Back problems due to computers?	Hakala et al are to be commended for their interest and research on adolescent back problems. However, I'm surprised by their suggestion that back problems are more likely due to increased computer usage rather than due to heavier backpack loads (or other causes) for European (and American) school children. Their assertion, "..children often carry heavy loads during their school day, yet no change in these loads was evident in the 1990s...," is unsupported by the cited WHO reports. There is however, a growing body of evidence for the damage done to children's backs by heavy, textbook-laden backpacks (cf. Negrini S, Carabalona R, Sibilla P in Lancet 1999; 354 (9194) Dec 4:1974). There is also anecdotal evidence from publisher catalogs that required textbooks have gotten larger and more numerous. Furthermore, if technology usage in Finland follows the observed patterns reported by the rest of the world (cf. Balka, E., (1996). Women and Computer Networking in Six Countries. Journal of International Communications, v 2 #3.), computer and internet usage amongst adolescent girls is probably lower than for boys. Thus, computer and internet usage is an unlikely explanation for the higher levels of reported back problems for Finnish girls over boys.
Computers and long-sightedness. 8 October 2002
Phillip J. Colquitt, Independent Technical Advisor Send response to journal: Re: Computers and long-sightedness.	Editor, As I write, I’m using a computer, and I am aware of developing a pain in my neck – possibly in readers' necks also. The reason I have this pain is because this university based public computer, has it’s visual display unit (monitor) mounted on top of a five inch thick slab type computer, thus raising the height of the monitor to favour the young myopic reader, rather than the middle aged (me), relatively presbyopic reader. Other presbyopic readers can be seen around me using computers, all with their jaw thrust unnaturally forward, contracting the muscles in the back of the neck, as they strive to use the higher magnification in the bottom part or their bi-focal corrective lenses. The reason for having this higher position of the monitor, is partly because the university doesn’t use tower type computers which sit like small office buildings beside the monitor, not underneath it(as with the slab type). I’ve tried adjusting the height of this pneumatic office chair to the maximum, so that I can gaze comfortably downward [1], but that just meant my feet had no contact with the floor. So that’s out. I could increase the fount size, but then everyone around me could read my letter from a mile away. So I’m sticking with 12 point type. In a better world, the computer would focus what I can see on the monitor relative to my eyesight, which would eliminate the task related need for reading glasses, and enhance privacy by making this letter temporarily invisible. At least to myopic readers. Phillip J. Colquitt. Independent Technical Advisor. New Farm.. Queensland. Australia. [1] Saito S, Miyao M, Kondo T, Sakakibara H, Toyoshima H. Ergonomic evaluation of working posture of VDT operation using personal computer with flat panel display. Ind Health. 1997 Apr;35(2):264-70.
Increases in musculoskelatal pain is multifaceted 7 July 2003
Kenneth H. Moger, Private Practice River City Chiropractic 95610 Send response to journal: Re: Increases in musculoskelatal pain is multifaceted	Although computer work and increases in watching and playing games on TVs likely contributes to this issue I believe that additionally three factors may be relavant to future health care costs due to increases in pain (in adults and children): 1) proinflammatory diets in combination with lack of essiential fatty acids. 2) over use of cox inhibitors (all 3 types) 3) adverse biomechanical developement of the cervical and upper dorsal musculature and boney structures resulting in cervical kyphosis and anterior weight bearing of the skull in relation to the torso (caused from not enough belly time and too much time in car seats as an infant and then further aggravated by heavy school packs) Competing interests:   None declared