MUSCULOSKELETAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS IN USERS OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES PRE AND DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

S. Reid¹, N. Luxton¹, D. Andrews¹, E. Lamperts¹

¹Australian Catholic University, Discipline Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sydney, Australia

Background: The impact of COVID-19 has resulted in people spending increased time on electronic devices (computers, tablets, mobile phones). It is suggested these changes in device use, have led to an increase in the incidence of musculoskeletal and psychological symptoms.

Purpose: This study aims to determine if usage patterns of electronic devices have changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and if there’s an increase in musculoskeletal and psychological symptoms.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted to investigate electronic device usage among staff and students at an Australian university, who were invited to complete a web-based survey created using Qualtrics software.To be included participants had to be over 18 years. There were no exclusion criteria. The survey included questions about electronic device usage patterns before and during the pandemic (such as hours per day, reason for device use, number of texts), questions about musculoskeletal symptoms (neck pain, thumb pain, headache), and questions about stress, anxiety, and fear of missing out. Chi-squared analysis was used to compare symptoms prior and during the pandemic.

Results: Data was collected February to August 2022. Surveys were completed by 471 staff, mean age 45.1 years, 71% female and 500 students 22.3 years, 80% female of whom 228 were physiotherapy students. Time each day on devices during the pandemic was 8.1 hours (SD2.1) for staff and 6.6 (1.9) for students; number of texts per day: 21 (95%CI 17.2-24.1), 51 (46.0-56.1); people experiencing fatigue related to device use 23%, 48%. If not being contactable by phone, students were more likely to report being anxious 31.5 (on a score of 1-100), stressed 31.1, and fear of missing out 29 compared to staff 23.9, 24.1, 13.9. Both groups reported spending three hours per day more on electronic devices during the pandemic compared to pre-COVID-19. There were significant (p<0.001) increases in all five areas of musculoskeletal pain from pre-pandemic to during it. Per cent of staff reporting having headaches pre-COVID-19 was 21%, which increased to 25% during the pandemic, neck pain 18% to 27%, upper back pain 23% to 28%, shoulder pain 20% to 24% and thumb pain 6% to 10%. Similarly students reporting headaches increased from 29% to 40%, neck pain 19% to 38%, upper back pain 23% to 39%, shoulder pain 16% to 27%, and thumb pain 5% to 11%.

Conclusions: For university staff and students there has been an increase in the use of electronic devices since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. There has also been an increase in musculoskeletal symptoms and reports of psychological symptoms.

Implications: Staff and students at university are spending large amounts of time on electronic devices. This has increased over the last two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to increases in symptoms. As physiotherapists it is our role to help guide and manage this problem. This includes giving advice re using better postures such as avoiding sitting slouched in prolonged cervical flexion, having the device supported, taking breaks, staying physically active and limiting time on devices.

Funding acknowledgements: Australian Catholic University

Keywords:
Electronic devices
COVID-19
Neck pain, headache

Topics:
Musculoskeletal: spine
COVID-19
Mental health

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Australian Catholic University

Committee: Australian Catholic University Human Research Ethics Committee

Ethics number: Approval ID: 2021-259EAP