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

Sigurd Mikkelsen; Christina Funch Lassen; Imogen Vilstrup; Ann Isabel Kryger; Lars Peter Andreas Brandt; Jane Frølund Thomsen; Mette Gerster; Søren Grimstrup; Johan Hviid Andersen

doi:10.1007/s00420-011-0648-1

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

Sigurd Mikkelsen, Christina Funch Lassen, Imogen Vilstrup, Ann Isabel Kryger, Lars Peter Andreas Brandt, Jane Frølund Thomsen, Mette Gerster, Søren Grimstrup, Johan Hviid Andersen

9 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original language	English
Journal	International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
Volume	85
Issue number	2
Pages (from-to)	139-52
Number of pages	14
ISSN	0340-0131
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0648-1
Publication status	Published - Feb 2012

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Mikkelsen, S., Lassen, C. F., Vilstrup, I., Kryger, A. I., Brandt, L. P. A., Thomsen, J. F., Gerster, M., Grimstrup, S., & Andersen, J. H. (2012). Does computer use affect the incidence of distal arm pain? A one-year prospective study using objective measures of computer use. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 85(2), 139-52. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0648-1

Does computer use affect the incidence of distal arm pain? A one-year prospective study using objective measures of computer use. / Mikkelsen, Sigurd; Lassen, Christina Funch; Vilstrup, Imogen et al.

In: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, Vol. 85, No. 2, 02.2012, p. 139-52.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Mikkelsen, S, Lassen, CF, Vilstrup, I, Kryger, AI, Brandt, LPA, Thomsen, JF, Gerster, M, Grimstrup, S & Andersen, JH 2012, 'Does computer use affect the incidence of distal arm pain? A one-year prospective study using objective measures of computer use', International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, vol. 85, no. 2, pp. 139-52. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0648-1

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

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.",

author = "Sigurd Mikkelsen and Lassen, {Christina Funch} and Imogen Vilstrup and Kryger, {Ann Isabel} and Brandt, {Lars Peter Andreas} and Thomsen, {Jane Fr{\o}lund} and Mette Gerster and S{\o}ren Grimstrup and Andersen, {Johan Hviid}",

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AU - Kryger, Ann Isabel

AU - Brandt, Lars Peter Andreas

AU - Thomsen, Jane Frølund

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AU - Grimstrup, Søren

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N2 - 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.

AB - 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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JO - International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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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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