Office Health Hazards

There is little doubt that computers and hand-held devices have revolutionized the modern office. But along with increased ease and efficiency, they also have given rise to office-related injuries, such as repetitive motion disorders, computer vision syndromes, and varicose veins from prolonged standing. What follows is a description of each of these conditions and a discussion of their relationship to the modern office environment.

Repetitive Motion Disorders

Repetitive motion disorders (RMDs) are a family of muscular conditions that result from repeated motions performed during the course of your normal work or daily activities. They occur when muscles and tendons become irritated and inflamed due to repetitive movements and/or awkward postures, such as twisting the arm or wrist, overexertion, incorrect posture, or muscle fatigue. RMDs occur most commonly in the hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders, but can also happen in the neck, back (back strain), hips, knees, feet, legs, and ankles.

Perhaps the most common and well known RMD is carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful disorder of the hand caused by pressure on the main nerve that runs through the wrists. Other injuries that can result from repetitive motions include:

For some people, there may be no visible sign of injury, although they may find it hard to perform easy tasks. Over time, RMDs can cause temporary or permanent damage to the soft tissues in the body—such as the muscles, nerves, tendons, and ligaments—and compression of nerves or tissue. Generally, RMDs affect people who perform repetitive tasks, like working in an assembly line or sewing. While most people associate computer work with carpal tunnel syndromes, the research so far does not support this.

Computer Vision Syndrome

As computers become an integral part of our everyday life, more and more people are also experiencing a variety of vision issues related to computer use. These include:

Eyestrain
Tired eyes
Irritation
Redness
Blurred vision
Double vision

Collectively, these conditions are referred to as computer vision syndrome (CVS). CVS may be caused by abnormalities on the surface of the eye or muscle spasms. They may also be caused by ergonomic issues in the work environment, such as lighting, glare, display quality, refresh rates, and radiation. Fortunately, many of these issues can be corrected with proper lighting, anti-glare filters, ergonomic positioning of a computer monitor, and regular work breaks. Lubricating eye drops and special computer glasses may also help.

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are gnarled, enlarged veins. Any vein may become varicose, but the veins most commonly affected are those in your legs and feet. For many people, varicose veins are simply a cosmetic concern. For others, varicose veins can cause aching, pain, and discomfort, sometimes leading to more serious problems. Symptoms of varicose veins may include:

An achy or heavy feeling in your legs
Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in your lower legs, exacerbated by prolonged sitting or standing
Itching around one or more of your veins
Skin ulcers near your ankle

What Can You Do?

While there may be some debate about the direct causes of these common office-related injuries, there is little debate over the importance of correcting and/or preventing these ailments whenever possible. If you are suffering from any of the disorders discussed above, talk with your office manager about making changes to your workday activities or workspace. Many employers have developed ergonomic programs to help workers adjust their pace of work and arrange office equipment to minimize problems.

RESOURCES

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html/

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke http://www.ninds.nih.gov/index.htm/

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety http://www.ccohs.ca/

Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index%5Fe.html/

References

Andersen JH, Thomsen JF, Overgaard E, et al. Computer use and carpal tunnel syndrome: a 1-year follow-up study. JAMA. 2003;289(22):2963-2969.

Blehm C, Vishnu S, Khattak A. Computer vision syndrome: a review. Surv Ophthalmol . 2005;50(3):253-262.

Computer-related injuries. Better Health Channel. Available at: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Computer%5Frelated%5Finjuries?OpenDocument . Accessed July 5, 2005.

Izquierdo JC, Garcia M, Buxo C. Factors leading to the computer vision syndrome: an issue at the contemporary workplace. Bol Asoc Med P R . 2004;96(2):103-10.

Kontosic I, Vukelic M, Drescik I, et al. Work conditions as risk factors for varicose veins of the lower extremities in certain professions of the working population of Rijeka. Acta Med Okayama . 2000 Feb;54(1):33-8.

Lassen CF, Mikkelsen S, Kryger AI, Andersen JH. Risk factors for persistent elbow, forearm, and hand pain among computer workers. Scand J Work Environ Health . 2005;31(2):122-31.

NINDS Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Information Page. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal%5Ftunnel/carpal%5Ftunnel.htm . Accessed July 5, 2005.

NINDS Repetitive Motion Disorders Information Page. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/repetitive%5Fmotion/repetitive%5Fmotion.htm . Accessed July 5, 2005.

Palmer KT, Cooper C, Walker-Bone K, Syddall H, Coggon D. Use of keyboards and symptoms in the neck and arm: evidence from a national survey. Occup Med (Lond) . 2001 Sep;51(6):392-5.

Varicose veins. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated August 11, 2009. Accessed November 20, 2009.

Varicose veins. MayoClinic.com. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=A319313A-D75E-4E61-AC71435EC2C152BD&dsection=1 . Accessed July 7, 2005.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Brian Randall, MD
Review Date: 11/2011 -
Update Date: 11/04/2011 -

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Redmond Regional Medical Center