Abstract:

During the online education during the COVID-19 pandemic we observed some problems in the active attention and the concentration of our students. We sent questionnaires to our students and we observed the presence of some consequences of the use (abuse) of personal computers.

So, we included in the educational materials a new thematic field: prevention of computer-induced health problems, as: back pain, mouse syndrome, electronic screen syndrome, computer vision syndrome (including dry eye), metabolic syndrome.

The interest of our students in the topic was significant.
We structured series of presentations and video-films on these topics; designated to our medical doctors – trainees in physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) and to our students in physiotherapy, medical rehabilitation and ergotherapy, medical rehabilitation and balneology.

During the online education we accentuated on the potential of some physical modalities in this prevention: regular physical activity, analytic exercises for the paravertebral muscles, for the abdominal "belt" muscles and for the muscles of dominant hand (controlling the computer mouse), post-isometric relaxation and stretching techniques for hand flexors; control of the posture during the online education, training of oculo-motor muscles and accommodation, relaxing activities at home and in nature (including climate, mineral waters, underwater massage, balneo-physiotherapy - swimming and underwater exercises).

After the educational course, we tested students' knowledge in the field. At the end of the course we realized too an anonymous questionnaire for evaluation of students’ satisfaction of the acquired theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Our results were encouraging.

Keywords:

Education, prevention, back pain, mouse syndrome, electronic screen syndrome, computer vision syndrome, metabolic syndrome.