J Korean Med Sci.  2003 Jun;18(3):419-424. 10.3346/jkms.2003.18.3.419.

The Association of Subjective Stress, Urinary Catecholamine Concentrations and PC Game Room Use and Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Limbs in Young Male Koreans

• Kang JW
• Kim H
• Cho SH
• Lee MK
• Kim YD
• Nan HM
• Lee CH

• KMID: 2157661
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2003.18.3.419

Abstract

The use of PCs can cause health problems, including musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the upper limbs. This study was performed to investigate whether using PCs in PC game rooms may induce MSDs of the upper limbs. 284 young male Koreans were included. A self-administered, structured questionnaire was used to gather information about game room use, perceived subjective stress, and the symptoms related to MSDs. Urinary concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine were measured in spot urine. The symptom prevalence of MSDs of the upper limbs increased according to the increase of the duration of game room use. The intensity of perceived subjective stress showed a significant dose-response relationship with the frequency of MSDs symptoms in neck and shoulder areas. However, the urinary level of catecholamines was not significantly correlated with the symptom prevalence of MSDs in the upper limbs. These findings suggest that using PCs in game rooms produce physical stress on the upper limbs, strong enough to induce MSDs.

Keyword

Subjective Stress; Urinary Epinephrine; Urinary Norepinephrine; Urinary Dopamine; PC Game Room; Musculoskeletal Disorder

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Arm
Catecholamines/*urine
Dopamine/urine
Epinephrine/urine
Human
Male
Musculoskeletal Diseases/*epidemiology/etiology/urine
Norepinephrine/urine
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Stress, Psychological/complications/*epidemiology/urine
Video Games/*adverse effects