Thesis (MScPhysio)--Stellenbosch University, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: The use of computers at school, university, work and for social media is growing and whilst neck pain is common in the general population, computer users have an even higher prevalence. Incorrect workstation ergonomics have been identified as a risk factor for the development of neck pain in computer workers. Aims: To assess the effect of adjusting chair and monitor height of a female office worker’s computer workstation on work related neck and upper back pain intensity, comfort of her sitting posture and disability. Methods: An N=1 study was conducted using the A-B-C design consisting of a computer workstation adjustment involving chair and monitor height of a female office worker. The effect of the intervention was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to measure neck and upper back pain intensity and comfort of sitting position, and the Neck Disability Index to measure disability. The effect of the intervention was assessed over the three phases, consisting of four weeks each. During these phases, the participant could continue with her usual computer work. The results were compiled and tabulated. Results: A reduction in neck and upper back pain intensity as well as an increase in sitting comfort position were found. However these improvements were not statistically or clinically significant. The effect size for pain intensity was 0.76 and for sitting comfort 0.21. The participant reported no disability as measured by the Neck Disability Index, at the start and at the end at the end of the study. Conclusion: The vertical adjustment of this female office worker’s chair and monitor height according to her anthropometrics improved neck and upper back pain intensity and comfort of sitting position. This ergonomic workstation intervention could form part of a practical management option for computer users with neck and upper back pain. Further research is recommended to establish whether these findings are generalizable to the wider community of computer users. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Probleemstelling: Die gebruik van rekenaars by skole, universiteite, werksplekke en vir sosiale doeleindes neem toe. Nek pyn kom dikwels in die algemene bevolking voor, maar dit is meer prevalent in rekenaargebruikers. ‘n Werkstasie wat nie ergonomies korrek opgestel is nie, is geidentifiseer as ‘n risikofaktor vir die ontwikkeling van nekpyn in rekenaar werkers. Doelwitte: Om te bepaal of aanpassings in die stoel- en beeldskerm hoogte van ‘n vroulike kantoor werker se rekenaar werkstasie, ‘n effek het op werksverwante nek en boonste rug pyn, sitgemak en funksionele vermoë. Methode: Die N=1 studie met ‘n A-B-C ontwerp is onderneem en het bestaan uit n rekenaar werkstasie aanpassing waarby die hoogte van die stoel en beeldskerm van ‘n vroulike relenaargebruiker aangepas is. Die effek van die intervensie is ge-evalueer deur middle van die visueel analoogskaal (VAS) om pyn en sitgemak te bepaal; en die Nek Ongeskiktheids Indeks (NOI) om gestremtheid te bepaal. Die effek van die intervensie is oor drie fases, wat elk bestaan het uit vier weke, evalueer. Gedurende die fases, kon die deelnemer met haar gewone rekenaarwerk voortgaan. Die resultate is saamgestel en getabuleer. Resultate: Daar was ‘n vemindering in die intensiteit van nekpyn, boonste rug pyn en die sitgemak van die individu het ook verbeter. Hierdie verbeteringe was egter nie statisties of klinies betekenisvol nie. Die effek grootte vir pyn intensiteit was 0.76 en vir sitgemak was 0.21. Die deelnemer het geen gestremdheid gerapporteer, soos gemeet met die NOI met aanvangs van die studie of teen die einde van die studie nie. Gevolgtrekking: Die vertikale hoogte-aanpassing van die stoel en beeldskerm van hierdie vroulike rekenaar werker volgens haar antropometrie het bygedra tot ‘n verbetering in nek en boonste rug pyn, asook sitgemak. Hierdie ergonomiese werkstasie intervensie kan deel vorm van die praktiese hantering van nek en boonste rug pyn in rekenaargebruikers. Verdere navorsing wod aanbeveel om te bepaal of hierdie bevindinge veralgemeenbaar is na die wyer gemeenskap van rekenaarverbruikers.

CAPES; Fundação Araucária / Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo geral levantar os possíveis efeitos pelo uso dos dispositivos móveis por adolescentes principalmente no convívio familiar e no aprendizado. Foi desenvolvida em um grupo de alunos, de pais e de professores de dois colégios, sendo um público, localizado em Curitiba, estado do Paraná, e outro privado, localizado na cidade de São Bento do Sul, estado de Santa Catarina. Para a realização do estudo, considerou-se os objetivos específicos: i) levantar os prováveis benefícios e os prováveis riscos oriundos da utilização dos dispositivos móveis; ii) investigar as variáveis com potencial de alterar o convívio do adolescente na família e na escola; e iii) analisar o possível efeito dos dispositivos móveis nos adolescentes, considerando seu convívio familiar e seu rendimento escolar. A pesquisa, quanto à natureza e a finalidade prática, foi descritiva, e no ponto de vista de seu propósito, foi predominantemente explicativa; o estudo empregou a concepção do levantamento na forma de abordagem do problema, e a metodologia empregada para o tratamento dos dados foi de métodos mistos. A pesquisa empregou a amostragem estratificada e a amostragem intencional; e para cada estrato utilizou-se a amostragem aleatória simples. A aplicação dos questionários no colégio público foi para 85 alunos, 24 pais e 9 professores; e no colégio privado foi para 76, 26 e 11 respectivamente. O estudo indicou que os efeitos da mediação dos dispositivos móveis convergem maiormente para determinados aspectos negativos do que para aspectos positivos. Os principais benefícios apontados foram: uso para pesquisas; lazer; comunicação; aprendizagem por videoaulas; acesso à informação e compartilhamento de conteúdo educacional. Especialmente no que tangem aos riscos provenientes da intensidade e da forma na utilização dos dispositivos móveis, como a tendência dos dispositivos em despertar o sedentarismo e os riscos ligados à saúde sobretudo dos adolescentes, ligados à postura, à visão, à audição e ao sono. Além disso, existem os riscos com a radiação emitida pelos dispositivos móveis e com o descarte incorreto dos dispositivos móveis em desuso. Ainda, o estudo apontou que um maior uso dos dispositivos móveis, refletiu em uma ligeira redução na nota, motivado pelo pouco aproveitamento dos dispositivos no processo de ensino-aprendizagem. / This research had as general objective to raise the possible effects using the mobile devices by adolescents mainly in family life and learning. It was developed in a group of students, parents and teachers of two high schools, one public, located in Curitiba, Paraná state, and another private, located in the city of São Bento do Sul, Santa Catarina state. To carry out the study, the specific objectives were: i) to get up the probable benefits and the probable risks arising from the use of mobile devices; ii) investigate the variables with the potential to alter the adolescents' life in the family and school; and iii) analyze the possible effect of mobile devices on adolescents, considering their family life and school performance. The research, as to the nature and the practical purpose, was descriptive, and from the point of view of its purpose, was predominantly explanatory; the study used the conception of the survey in the form of approach of the problem, and the methodology used for the Treatment was of mixed methods. The research employed stratified sampling and intentional sampling; and for each stratum the simple random sampling was used. The application of the questionnaires in the public high school was for 85 students, 24 parents and 9 teachers; and the private high school went to 76, 26 and 11 respectively. The study indicated that the effects of mediation of mobile devices largely converge on certain negative aspects rather than on positive aspects. The main benefits were: use for research; leisure; communication; video lesson learning; access to information and sharing of educational content. Particularly about the risks arising from the intensity and the way in which mobile devices are used, such as the tendency of the devices to arouse the sedentary lifestyle and the risks related to health especially of adolescents, related to posture, vision, hearing and sleep. In addition, there are risks with the radiation emitted by the mobile devices and with the incorrect discard of the mobile devices in disuse. Still, the study pointed out that a greater use of mobile devices, it was reflected in a slight reduction in the grade, motivated by the poor use of devices in the teaching-learning process.