Ergonomic safety has become a big issue in the work place, but not in schools, child care centers and homes where more and more kids are using computers in setups designed for adults twice their size. Do you think there's a potential safety hazard here in cumulative trauma injuries, eye strain, etc.? How might we go about reducing the risk and improving children's computer safety?

When Goldilocks entered the house of the 3 bears, she was quick to recognize when the porridge was "too hot" or the chair was "too big" for someone her size. She had the good fortune to happen upon a chair that was "just right," and she sat down in it. Most of our children are not so fortunate.

Sadly, they are so used to living in a world designed for adults that they don't even notice when they sit down at a computer that the angles are all wrong. Hours disappear as they sit with rapt attention to the screen, surfing the web or playing their favorite games. They remain unaware that their awkward, unnatural postures are transmitting the wrong information to their growing bodies.

My back aches. . .
I have this pain between my shoulders. . .
I've had this tingling in my hands the past few days. . .
My right hand doesn't seem as strong as it did. . .
My lower neck is bothering me. . .

Complaints such as these have become common from adults who sit for too many hours in front of computers with their bodies in incorrect positions. These common injuries develop gradually over time. Called cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs), or repetitive stress injuries (RSIs), they can be caused by repeated, constant, or excessive stress on muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and nerves. Today, RSI is the number one health problem in the work environment, resulting in huge costs from absenteeism, loss of productivity, the explosion of workmen's compensation claims, litigation, eye problems, chronic pain, loss of sensation, and loss of strength.

To combat RSI, the science of ergonomics has come to the fore. Ergonomics is a term taken from the Greek word "ergon," meaning work, and "nomos," meaning law. In other words, ergonomics refers to the natural laws of doing work. It's the science of designing the tools and the environment to fit the worker. Ergonomics began during World War II in the design of aircraft. Now ergonomics helps in the design of computer workstations.

To prevent injuries, ergonomists first determine the activities and anatomy of those using the computers. To do this, they conduct many tests to find out the typical body size and common physical tendencies of the users, such as muscle movement and vision. They use instruments like anthropometers and sliding calipers to measure many aspects of the human body. They conduct simulations to watch how people use the computers.

Based on this research, ergonomists design computer equipment to fit the needs of the users. Ergonomics has been very successful. As a result adults can work more safely, comfortably, and efficiently.

Children's flexible bodies are in some ways more forgiving than those of adults. My kids can easily sit on the floor in positions that would give me backaches. For most children, it would take many more hours of cumulative trauma than it would for an adult to cause aches or tingling (this can happen, though -- it's amazing how long a kid can stay glued to a computer game without a break). Of greater concern is the impact that improper positioning might have on growth and development. We know that bones continuously remodel themselves during childhood. This remodeling is directed by the positioning, the stresses, and the use of the bones (as well as the nutrients available). Consistent improper positioning can change the length and shape of long bones.