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The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on March 8, 2006
The European Journal of Public Health 2006 16(5):536-541; doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckl025
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Adolescent health

Frequent computer-related activities increase the risk of neck–shoulder and low back pain in adolescents

Paula T. Hakala1,2,3, Arja H. Rimpelä1, Lea A. Saarni1 and Jouko J. Salminen4

1 Tampere School of Public Health, FIN-33014 University of Tampere, Finland
2 Tampere University Hospital, PO Box 2000, FIN-33421 Tampere, Finland
3 City of Helsinki, Health Centre, PO Box 6100, FIN-00099 Helsinki, Finland
4 Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital of Turku, PO Box 52, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland

Correspondence: Paula T. Hakala, Tampere School of Public Health, FIN-33014 University of Tampere, Finland, tel: +358 50 363 8669; fax: +358 3 215 6057, e-mail: paula.t.hakala{at}uta.fi

Background: Neck–shoulder pain (NSP) and low back pain (LBP) increased among adolescents in the 1990s and the beginning of 2000. A potential risk factor for this increase is the use of information and communication technology. We studied how the use of computers, the Internet, and mobile phones, playing digital games and viewing television are related to NSP and LBP in adolescents. Methods: Mailed survey with nationally representative samples of 14-, 16-, and 18-year-old Finns in 2003 (n = 6003, response rate 68%). The outcome variables were weekly NSP and LBP. Results: NSP was perceived by 26% and LBP by 12%. When compared with non-users, the risk of NSP was 1.3 (adjusted odds ratios) when using computers >2–3 h/day, and 1.8 when using 4–5 h/day; 2.5 when using computers ≥42 h/week, and 1.7 when using the Internet ≥42 h/week. Compared with non-users, the risk of LBP was 2.0 when using computers >5 h/day, 1.7 when using ≥42 h/week, 1.8 when using the Internet ≥42 h/week, and 2.0 when playing digital games >5 h/day. Times spent on digital gaming, viewing television, and using mobile phones were not associated with NSP, nor were use of mobile phones and viewing television with LBP after adjusting for confounding factors. Conclusions: Frequent computer-related activities are an independent risk factor for NSP and LBP. Daily use of computers exceeding 2–3 h seems to be a threshold for NSP and exceeding 5 h for LBP. Computer-related activities may explain the increase of NSP and LBP in the 1990s and the beginning of 2000.

Keywords: adolescence, computer, digital games, Internet, low back pain, mobile phone, neck–shoulder pain


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