Differential patterns of laptop use and associated musculoskeletal discomfort in male and female college students

Abstract

Background: 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 a need to investigate the postures with which these devices are being used and associated reports of musculoskeletal discomfort.

Objective: This study investigated the configurations in which laptops are used and the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort associated with laptop use in a survey of college students. The purpose of this was to identify differences in discomfort and/or postural choice between males and females.

Methods: A sample 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.

Results: Over 53% of participants reported experiencing musculoskeletal discomfort while using a laptop computer, with females reporting a higher prevalence of neck discomfort (p = 0.05) and shoulder discomfort (p = 0.006) than males. Participants reported using a laptop most commonly in positions at a desk and on a bed. Females were more likely than males to use a laptop on a bed 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 a large 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".

Conclusions: A significant 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 a variety of configurations and environments. This study identifies a number 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.

Keywords: Sex; computer; gender; injury; notebook computers; posture.