University of Surrey - Research shows phones can be pain in the neck

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RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY SHOWS PHONE CALLS CAN BE A PAIN IN THE NECK

Hundreds of thousands of people who regularly use a phone and a computer at work are likely to be suffering from musculoskeletal health problems, which results in neck pain, back pain and headaches. The first detailed study of telephone users in the office environment, presented at the 1999 Ergonomics Society Conference, demonstrates that there is a measurable health risk for anyone using the phone for just two hours daily.

Elizabeth Simpson, who carried out the research for her MSc degree at the University of Surrey under the guidance of Professor Peter Buckle, found that 50% of office workers in their study suffered from neck pain and 31% suffered from lower back pain. All participants were using the phone for a minimum of two hours a day. Surprisingly, 65% of participants also said they suffered from headaches sometimes or frequently.

In recent years there has been a significant increase in health complaints in the lower arm, shoulder and neck, which is now as common as back pain. While 'Phone Neck' - caused by the phone being gripped between the head and shoulders leaving both hands free to use the computer or take notes - is a common complaint amongst telephone and mobile phone users, until now there has been little scientific research into this condition.

This detailed two month study analysed the postures adopted to use the telephone. All participants used the phone and computer simultaneously during their work. In a cross-over study, each participant was monitored during a four week period using the traditional telephone handset (control condition) and four weeks with a Plantronics headset (intervention condition). Nearly two thirds of respondents said they rarely or never had a headache when using the Plantronics headset. In addition, the research found that using a Plantronics headset reduced neck pains by 31%, lower back pain by 16% and upper back pain by 9%. Headaches were reduced by 27% when a headset was used.

Elizabeth Simpson, author of the study and a practising physiotherapist, said: "Unlike manual worker safety, the issue of occupational injury among office staff is still not taken seriously enough by employers. This is partly because the injuries caused by bad telephone habits cannot be seen and take time to manifest. This study has shown that the use of telephone headsets can reduce neck pain, back pain and headaches in subjects who use the phone and computer simultaneously for a minimum of two hours a day."

Paul Clark, International Marketing Director of Plantronics, said: "The real value of this study is that it provides a comprehensive real-life picture of the postures associated by telephone use in the daily office environment. Although legislation requires that risk assessments of computer workstations should be conducted regularly, in compliance with the 1992 DSE regulations, telephone use has been overlooked. We will be presenting this research to the Health & Safety Executive to ensure that future legislation takes telephone use into account."

Media Enquiries: Jacqui Spiers, University of Surrey, tel. 01483 879314.

© copyright The University of Surrey 1999
Disclaimer

For more information e-mail information@surrey.ac.uk
Updated August 1999


		University of Surrey Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH, UK	Tel (01483) 300800 Fax (01483) 300803




	RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY SHOWS PHONE CALLS CAN BE A PAIN IN THE NECK Hundreds of thousands of people who regularly use a phone and a computer at work are likely to be suffering from musculoskeletal health problems, which results in neck pain, back pain and headaches. The first detailed study of telephone users in the office environment, presented at the 1999 Ergonomics Society Conference, demonstrates that there is a measurable health risk for anyone using the phone for just two hours daily. Elizabeth Simpson, who carried out the research for her MSc degree at the University of Surrey under the guidance of Professor Peter Buckle, found that 50% of office workers in their study suffered from neck pain and 31% suffered from lower back pain. All participants were using the phone for a minimum of two hours a day. Surprisingly, 65% of participants also said they suffered from headaches sometimes or frequently. In recent years there has been a significant increase in health complaints in the lower arm, shoulder and neck, which is now as common as back pain. While 'Phone Neck' - caused by the phone being gripped between the head and shoulders leaving both hands free to use the computer or take notes - is a common complaint amongst telephone and mobile phone users, until now there has been little scientific research into this condition. This detailed two month study analysed the postures adopted to use the telephone. All participants used the phone and computer simultaneously during their work. In a cross-over study, each participant was monitored during a four week period using the traditional telephone handset (control condition) and four weeks with a Plantronics headset (intervention condition). Nearly two thirds of respondents said they rarely or never had a headache when using the Plantronics headset. In addition, the research found that using a Plantronics headset reduced neck pains by 31%, lower back pain by 16% and upper back pain by 9%. Headaches were reduced by 27% when a headset was used. Elizabeth Simpson, author of the study and a practising physiotherapist, said: "Unlike manual worker safety, the issue of occupational injury among office staff is still not taken seriously enough by employers. This is partly because the injuries caused by bad telephone habits cannot be seen and take time to manifest. This study has shown that the use of telephone headsets can reduce neck pain, back pain and headaches in subjects who use the phone and computer simultaneously for a minimum of two hours a day." Paul Clark, International Marketing Director of Plantronics, said: "The real value of this study is that it provides a comprehensive real-life picture of the postures associated by telephone use in the daily office environment. Although legislation requires that risk assessments of computer workstations should be conducted regularly, in compliance with the 1992 DSE regulations, telephone use has been overlooked. We will be presenting this research to the Health & Safety Executive to ensure that future legislation takes telephone use into account." Media Enquiries: Jacqui Spiers, University of Surrey, tel. 01483 879314.

	© copyright The University of Surrey 1999 Disclaimer	For more information e-mail information@surrey.ac.uk Updated August 1999