The Hindu : Karnataka News : MSD, a major worry for IT professionals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 10, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

MSD, a major worry for IT professionals

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, MAY 9. An increasing number of computer professionals in Bangalore are being affected by musculo-skeletal disorders (MSD), which is adversely affecting their work and normal life, according to a study conducted by Deepak Sharan, noted consultant in orthopaedics and rehabilitation.

According to the preliminary results of an ongoing study being carried out by Dr. Sharan and his team, at least 75 per cent of the 2,000 computer professionals they examined in Bangalore have MSD. "We started the analysis in 2001 and, till now, 2000 IT professionals have been examined. The final results of the study will be published by the end of this year," Dr. Sharan told The Hindu .

He recently presented the preliminary results of the study at a seminar on occupational health.

MSD is also known as repetitive strain injury (RSI) and cumulative trauma disorder (CTD). It is a group of work-related disorders among computer users and may affect the neck, lower limb, lower back, legs, jaws, chest or vocal chords, says Dr. Sharan, who is associated with Bangalore Children's Hospital and specifically deals with paediatric orthopaedics, computer-related injuries and myofascial pain and dysfunction.

He says the median age of the IT professionals with MSD is 27 years and the male to female ratio is 4:1. The disorder affects their quality of life and productivity in the prime of their lives.

According to the study, 55 per cent of those with MSD developed symptoms within one year of starting careers involving the use of computers.

Around 60 per cent of those with severe injuries (neurovascular compression or tendonitis) recalled having chronic neck and shoulder pain or stiffness that they considered "normal" for computer users and ignored, according to Dr. Sharan.

The most common risk factors include working long hours, lack of appropriate breaks, improper monitor height, mouse or keyboard being too high and resting the arm or wrist on a hard surface while typing. Stress and lack of knowledge of ergonomics contribute highly to MSD, he says.

Symptoms of MSD include persistent discomfort, fatigue or pain that appears suddenly or gradually; swelling, redness or warmth in affected part; pinching sensation; muscle weakness; heaviness or clumsiness of the hand; stiffness, burning sensation and numbness. There may be gradual development of difficulty in day-to-day activities such as shaking hands, opening doors, holding a newspaper, using a comb, or even holding a teacup.

The disorder can be treated, but the earlier it is identified, the better, says Dr. Sharan.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka