Musculoskeletal Discomforts in Body Posture of Computer Users: A Quantitative Analysis

Abstract

In recent times, computer has become a common tool that is being used by almost every individual from various field of human endeavor.  This is due to the fact that computer offer a lot of different services and facilities to help the users to perform and complete the task s more efficient and effective. A variety of sectors including banks, government offices, private entities, autonomous institutions etc.  Have computerized their data systems for smooth and faster flow of information.  Injuries due to the usage of computer system have been recognized worldwide and several actions that involved repetitive or forceful movements and the maintenance of constrained or awkward postures have also been associated with musculoskeletal visor der.  Work- related musculoskeletal disorders have  been  found  to  be  associated  with   numerous occupational  risk  fact ores  including physical work load factors such as   force, posture, movement and vibration ,  psychosocial stressors and  individual  factors.  This study  illustrates the  idea of understanding  how demographic structure (gender, age, height, and weight) physical and psychosocial job characteristics,   computer  usage ,   office  ergonomics,  symptoms  of  Work- related musculoskeletal  disorders ,   perceived  musculoskeletal  discomfort  types  and  their frequencies may affect formation of musculoskeletal disorders in the computer users. This study was conducted  on a  survey  of  questionnaires  among  computer  users  and  applied  a  rigorous  research methodology to treat the survey data. From an extensive re view of the literature in the field  of  computer  users  and  their  musculoskeletal  disorder  &  body  posture,  16 musculoskeletal disorders and 6 major outcomes were identified. A questionnaire survey instrument was developed, reliability of the questionnaire were tested using data from 3000 participants.   The data was analysed using   Reliability analysis, Pearson’s correlation. It was concluded finally that the instrument presented in this paper was reliable and valid. Researchers will be able to use this for body posture analysis and gait analysis.