Computer-related ailments on the rise among youth

In the last decade since the IT revolution swept India, the successful growth of the industry was largely attributed to the contribution of youths belonging to the 20-35 age group. But the same group has become victim to computer-related injuries.

The excessive and intensive use of computers has led to occupation-related injuries such as computer-related injuries (CRI) or otherwise known as repetitive strain injury (RSI) and computer vision syndrome (CVS).

This was revealed at a workshop hosted by Nasscom in partnership with the Asha Foundation. The objective of the workshop was to reduce absenteeism owing to CRI and CVS, increase productivity and quality and also reduce the attrition rate due to work related health reasons.

Sunder S, physical medicine and ergonomic consultant, said 15 to 20 per cent of youth working in the IT sector suffer from CRI. The symptoms vary from mild neck pain to chronic back pain. "It occurs owing to the repeated physical movements, which, thereby, damages the tendons and ligaments."

In the case of IT professionals, CRI can be attributed to their spending long hours with computers in unnatural postures and also owing to lack of exercise and intake of junk foods.

The Operational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), USA, calls RSI the most seen injury among those working in the IT industry.

The estimated cost in lost productivity and compensation in the US was over $ 17 billion. Between 2001 and 2003 more than 1,200 IT professionals in Bangalore had reported such injuries.

According to Dr Preeti Premraj, CVS, was another major occupational injury owing to excessive working with computers. "About 84 per cent of the IT professionals or people who work for long hours with computers suffer from Computer Vision Syndrome related symptoms such as irritation in eyes and headache."

Out of the 84 per cent who show such symptoms about 14 per cent suffer from chronic Computer Vision Syndrome.

H Sreedhar, CEO, Asha Foundation said, "With the new occupational safety and health regulations being introduced globally, it is obligatory for us to get prepared for the future and rope in the concept of "ergonomics" in the corporate sector mainly the IT, BPO and all computer-related companies."