To Study and Compare the Effect of Laptop Computers with Desktop Computers on Working Posture and Self-Reported Musculoskeletal Symptoms

Purpose: Comparing the effect of the laptops with desktops on the working posture and self reported musculoskeletal system.

Objective: To determine the extent to which health problems associated with laptops, and the risk factors involved. How do these risk factors compare with those using full sized desktop.

Methodology: The study was done on randomly selected sample from different age group of people. Sample size was 135 respondents from 3 different places (Haldwani, Pantnagar and Delhi). Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics.

Results: It has been observed that Length of working hours have strong association with suffering.(.729) It has also been observed that age of the computer users is having a considerable effect on the upper back pain (.381). Out of 47 laptop users 37 have reported that they are suffering with some pain, fatigue or numbness. i.e. 78 per cent of laptop users are suffering from some kind of pain in comparison to 28 per cent of desktop users.

Conclusion: The study showed the ill effect of laptop on posture is more when compared with desktop. The musculoskeletal problems are more reported by the laptop users as compared to desktop users.