Laptop-itis Hits College Campuses
A new medical condition is lurking on campus, in coffee shops and even in your own bedroom. Chances are, you’re not immune either.
“Laptop-itis” is a term coined by Kevin Carneiro, assistant professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
Laptop-itis stems from poor posture and includes neck pain, headaches, back pain and tingling fingers.
The University does not track personal devices, so it isn’t possible to know how many students own laptops.
However, according to EDUCAUSE, a group that researches information technology at universities, about 75 percent of college students owned laptops in 2007.
Sandra Bowman, physical therapy supervisor at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said students are already at risk for poor posture because of sustained sitting from class and studying. She also said some people tend to let gravity take over and not pay attention to their posture.
Nikhil Menon, a senior from Topeka, studies at the library about four days a week. He admits to hunching over his laptop and not paying attention to his posture. He said he sometimes gets back pain and thinks his posture could be a factor.
Bowman said laptops accentuate
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