Affiliations: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied
Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand | Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied
Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand | Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty
of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Prawit Janwantanakul, PhD,
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences,
Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand. Tel.: +66 2 218 3768; Fax:
+66 2 218 3766; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to investigate the 3-month prevalence of
musculoskeletal symptoms at the spine attributed to computer use and to
identify biopsychosocial factors associated with the prevalence in
undergraduate students. Participants: Undergraduate students who studied at a public
university in Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a
self-administered questionnaire delivered to 3,545 students. Results: A total of 2,511 students (73.7%) returned the
questionnaires. Cervical symptoms (22.3%) were the most frequently reported,
followed by thoracic (11%) and lumbar symptoms (10.7%). Females, daily computer
use greater than three hours and too-high keyboard's position were
significantly associated with a high prevalence of cervical symptoms. A significant association was found between higher undergraduate year
of the study and too-high keyboard's position and a high prevalence of thoracic
symptoms. Higher undergraduate year of the study and daily computer use greater
than three hours were significantly related to a high prevalence of lumbar
symptoms. Better-than-normal mental health status was associated with a low
prevalence of lumbar symptoms. Conclusion: Spinal symptoms are common among undergraduate students.
Various factors were identified to be associated with high prevalence of spinal
symptoms. Further research investigating the causal relation between these
factors and musculoskeletal symptoms should be conducted.
Keywords: Pain, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, college student
