Affiliations: Boston University, Sargent College of Health &
Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston, MA, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Karen Jacobs, EdD, OTR/L, CPE,
FAOTA, Clinical Professor, Boston University, Sargent College of Health
& Rehabilitation Sciences, 635 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Tel.: +1 617 353 7516; Fax: +1 617 353 2926; E-mail: kjacobs@bu.edu
Abstract: In recent years, there has been an increasing concern over the
association between computer use and reports of discomfort, aches and pains in
students. It is suggested that the physical set-up and individual styles of
using interactive media has an influence over this discomfort. As children grow
up, they will interact and use computers throughout most of their life. Healthy
computing may be vital to preventing/reducing the incidence of discomfort/pain
associated with interactive media. This research paper will describe a study,
which has collected health and comfort data on the incidence and prevalence of
self-reported computer-related musculoskeletal discomfort/pain among 6th and
7th grade students in three middle schools in New England. General base line
data from this three-year study is reported.
