Skip Navigation



The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on March 8, 2006
The European Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckl025
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (Rapid PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
16/5/536    most recent
ckl025v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hakala, P. T.
Right arrow Articles by Salminen, J. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hakala, P. T.
Right arrow Articles by Salminen, J. J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.
Received May 7, 2005
Accepted December 8, 2005

Article

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

Paula T. Hakala 1 *, Arja H. Rimpelä 2, Lea A. Saarni 2, and Jouko J. Salminen 3

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

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Paula T. Hakala, E-mail: paula.t.hakala{at}uta.fi


  Abstract

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.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Pediatr PsycholHome page
T. M. Palermo
Editorial: Section on Innovations in Technology in Measurement, Assessment, and Intervention
J. Pediatr. Psychol., January 1, 2008; 33(1): 35 - 38.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 radtechHome page
E. J. CHURCH and T. G. ODLE
Diagnosis and Treatment Of back Pain
Radiol. Technol., November 1, 2007; 79(2): 126 - 151.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.