As students hunch over their laptops, cranking out their first papers of the semester, they may be doing more than getting ahead in class. They may be creating future medical problems.

Researchers say the use of personal computers can lead to serious physical problems in the future due to bad posture.

The media have colorfully coined the problem “laptopitis.”

“It doesn’t surprise me,” said U. Iowa junior Katie Warning. “I mean, I am hunched over all the time on my laptop.”

Using a computer forces the user into a curved position, which can put stress on the upper and lower back, said David Hackbarth, a safety engineer for UI Environmental Health and Safety.

And injuries are not limited to laptops.

Hackbarth said desktop computers come with similar risks.

“I have done thousands of these evaluations, and in my practice, I have not seen a distinct difference,” he said.

But some experts disagree with this assessment.

With desktops, the user can “make adjustments to their work space,” such as adjusting the position and height of the monitor in relation to the keyboard, said Kevin Carneiro, an assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. The ability to manipulate the computer’s components makes desktops safer, he said.

Even with possible health risks, popularity of laptops has not been affected.

In fact, sales are on the rise. Nate Marner, an employee of the University Bookstore, said the ratio of laptops to desktop computers sold is “95 to 1.”

“We really only sell desktops to departments,” he said. “Everyone wants a laptop.”

Marner estimated the store will sell around $1 million in computers during this fiscal year alone.
Experts say there are ways to combat potential injuries.

Hackbarth suggested people get in a “relaxed posture” and bring their computer closer, rather than adjusting their bodies to reach the computer.

Short breaks every 20 minutes and using a docking station or separate monitor can improve posture while using a laptop, Carneiro said.

Some UI students said these measures seem a bit extreme.

“I think it is a little extensive to get a huge layout so that you are perfectly comfortable,” UI theater major Andy Lisle said.

While Carneiro admits laptops are here to stay, he did make a suggestion for how they could be altered in the future.

“If you were able to have keyboards and monitors that could be separate, that would be the best ergonomic adjustment you could make,” he said.