Differential patterns of laptop useandassociated musculoskeletal discomfortin male and female collegestudents.

Abstract

Laptop computers have surpassed desktop computers in popularity, especially among college student users. The portability of these devices raises concerns regarding healthy usage patterns in different settings and there is aneed to investigate the postures with which these devices are being used and associated reports of musculoskeletal discomfort. This study investigated the configurations in which laptops are used and the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort associated with laptop use in asurvey of college students. The purpose of this was to identify differences in discomfort and/or postural choice between males and females. Asample of 90 male and 96 female college students completed an online questionnaire consisting of demographic questions, musculoskeletal discomfort indicators and questions regarding configurations of laptop use. Over 53% of participants reported experiencing musculoskeletal discomfort while using alaptop computer, with females reporting ahigher prevalence of neck discomfort (p = 0.05) and shoulder discomfort (p = 0.006) than males. Participants reported using alaptop most commonly in positions at a desk and on abed. Females were more likely than males to use alaptop on abed with the computer positioned on their lap or with their legs crossed (p < 0.05). Males were more likely than females to work in positions necessitating alarge trunk deviation to operate the laptop (p < 0.05), such as "sitting on a sofa with your feet on the floor (knees at 90°), bending over to use laptop that is resting on a coffee table or ottoman in front of you". Asignificant proportion of college students report experiencing musculoskeletal discomfort associated with laptop computer use. Sex differences exist in both choice of configurations and musculoskeletal discomfort associated with laptop use. Due to the portability of laptop computers, they are used in avariety of configurations and environments. This study identifies anumber of different ways that laptop computers are used that have not been considered in previous research. These patterns of laptop use can be used to inform future work on the impact of technology use on discomfort.