Computer-Related Injuries in India
May 21st, 2008 | Published in RSI in the News
An article in The Times of India (Computer usage taking a toll on young India’s health) discusses the increasing prevalence of Computer Related Injury (CRI) in India, particularly among young professionals.
Physicians attribute the problem not only to heavy use of computers, video games, and cell phones, but to employer’s attempts to improve workplace ergonomics:
Most companies blindly follow ergonomics recommendation from American or European countries, ignoring the fact that an average Indian is at least five inches shorter than his western counterpart.
Dr Deepak Sharan, medical director of the RECOUP Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation Centre in Bangalore, has been conducting a study of 30,000 IT professionals for seven years. He has found that “75% showed musculoskeletal symptoms related to work. In nearly 60% cases, it was the neck and upper back which were affected, in 40% it was the lower back, while 30% had pain in the upper extremity. In 20%, it was a generalised disorder associated with constant pain and numbness.”
But, he says, “It is not always to do with long hours in front of the computer. Many get it just checking emails on their laptops,” he says. Psycho-social factors also play a big role, he says. Many times, stress, too, can worsen the situation.
Awareness of the condition is an issue as well. Many doctors end up treating the patient for spondilytis, slip disc or arthritis.
Read the complete article.
