using a computer (average computer usage per work day,
7.9 hours; weekend, 7.0 hours). Eltayeb et al22 recruited
264 Dutch computer users and found that the 2-year
prevalence rate was 31% for neck complaints, 33% for
shoulder complaints, and 21% for forearm/hands complaints.
They reported 56% of the female and 45% of the
male participants used a computer for more than 8 h/d.22
Although the average hours of computer use for our study
population was similar to that in this earlier work (7.9
hours), our subjects reported lower values with regard to
symptom severity. Comparing the methodology used in
both studies, age might be a confounding factor because
the average age for our participants was younger than
that in Eltayeb et al.22 The data from the current study
thus need to be interpreted with caution when applied to
other age populations.