Computer related musculoskeletal injuries

Repetitive Stress Injury can be truly regarded as a modern day epidemic, a gift of industrialization. We have conducted a study to find the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries in computer professionals with the aim to present data on the problem. The initial data was collected by a self administered questionnaire enquiring about years of work and per day working hours, symptomatology with their duration and severity, their own appreciation of work output. These individuals were assessed; relevant investigations and different modalities of treatment were advised. The study was conducted in one of the leading information technology company. A total of 1159 questionnaires were collected. Six hundred and twenty four (53.8%) had at least one positive symptom. 46.6% had stage 1 symptoms, 38.5% had stage 2 and 8.1% had stage 3 symptoms at the time of presentation. Two hundred and six patients were examined clinically by the senior author and a definitive clinicoanatomical diagnosis could be made only in 43 patients. Median age in our study group was 24 years. Ninety eight (22.17%) of positive patients concluded decrease work output due to their symptoms, but only 50(11.3%) patients had consulted a doctor. Two hundred four (46.15%) of patients contributed their symptoms to an ill designed workstation. We conclude that repetitive stress injuries are a definitive problem in computer professionals. The median age in our study group was lower than many international studies. Nearly half of these patients were in stage 2 and stage 3 at presentation.