Tortured by Technology - Musculoskeletal Disorders
Actions for Tortured by Technology - Musculoskeletal Disorders
 posted Apr 20, 2016 10:02 PM
“Musculoskeletal Disorders or MSDs are injuries and disorders that affect the human body's movement or musculoskeletal system.” - ("Ergonomics Plus", 2015) This can include the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, bursae, or a combination of them. Injuries of this kind can be incurred due to daily wear and tear such as repetitive strain or poor posture or from trauma such as slips and falls. Many MSDs can be caused by using technology extensively for work or entertainment.

Symptoms resulting from musculoskeletal disorders can range from mild muscle pain to sharp pain that can be quite debilitating. The effects of musculoskeletal disorders can be costly to both the injured worker and to the employer. “MSDs are associated with high costs to employers such as absenteeism, lost productivity, and increased health care, disability and worker’s compensation costs.” ("Centers for Disease Control and Prevention", 2013)  For the well being of the worker and the bottom line of the employer, it is important to prevent these injuries from occurring.

One of the most common Musculoskeletal Disorders is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome results in numbness, tingling, weakness, and other problems in the hand because of pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. The median nerve and several tendons run from the forearm to the hand through a small space in the wrist called a carpal tunnel. This pressure can come from swelling or anything that makes the carpal tunnel smaller. One of the things that can cause this is making the same hand movements over and over, especially if the wrist is bent down or making the same wrist movements over and over. This problem can be seen in workers such as dentists and secretaries. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated by rest and cold packs if caught early, but may require splinting, medications and  surgery.  It is much easier to prevent these injuries which can be done by improving work stations or positions as well as by taking breaks or switching tasks regularly.

“The term repetitive strain injury (RSI) is used to describe a range of painful conditions of the muscles, tendons and other soft tissues.” ("Patient", 2013) It can occur when an action is repeated for an extended period of time. This ailment may affect various areas of the body, but is most often in the hands. This is the case for two common RSIs, PlayStation Thumb and Blackberry thumb. These occur because the thumb was not evolved to be used for fine motor tasks, but only for pinching. Using the thumbs to control a joystick or type on tiny keyboards can, therefore, cause strain to the tendons.  Symptoms of these repetitive strain injuries can include pain, tightness, dull ache, numbness, and/or tingling in the affected area. RSIs, if detected early can be remedied by resting the affected area and finding different ways to use the technology.  Wearing a brace or getting cortisone shots would be the next step. Avoiding repetitive strain is definitely the best plan.

There are many other Musculoskeletal Disorders including “laptop back”, “tension neck syndrome”, “mouse elbow” and chronic sore back that have increased with the use of technology in the home and workplace. People often sit slumped over laptops, or gadgets with their chins pushed out typing, reading small print or watching videos. Many of the problems associated to these tasks can be reduced or eliminated by changing postures, stretching or resting, using options like voice to text and limiting time on task.

Musculoskeletal Disorders are a common problem for people who use technology for work or entertainment and these problems are only increasing with increases in technology in the workplace. Mild cases may just cause mild discomfort, but serious cases can be debilitating.  It is important to catch them early and not ignore the symptoms. MSDs negatively affect the lives of the people who acquire them and the financial bottom line of the workplaces involved. The most important thing to remember is that MSDs are usually preventable through proper workstations and workplace policies (including breaks and rotation of tasks) as well as proper posture and awareness of the potential dangers.


Works Cited:

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"The Definition and Causes of Musculoskeletal Disorders." Ergonomics Plus. 2015. Web. 20 Apr. 2016. <http://ergo-plus.com/musculoskeletal-disorders-msd/>.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.

"Carpal Tunnel Syndrome." Treatments and Drugs. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 Oct. 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.

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