HUBUNGAN DURASI PENGGUNAAN KOMPUTER DENGAN RISIKO CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME PADA MAHASISWA TINGKAT AKHIR FISIOTERAPI UNIVERSITAS MUHAMMADIYAH MALANG

Background: Computer use in students’ academic activities continues to increase, particularly among final-year students whose research-related workload is relatively high. Prolonged and repetitive computer use may contribute to neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders, one of which is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). CTS can impair hand function and negatively affect productivity and quality of life. Therefore, it is important to examine the relationship between the duration of computer use and the risk of CTS among physiotherapy students.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the duration of computer use and the risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome among final-year students of the Physiotherapy Study Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang.
Methods: This study used an analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach. The research subjects were final-year students of the Physiotherapy Study Program at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang who were selected using a total sampling technique. The duration of computer use was measured using a questionnaire, while the risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) was assessed using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTSQ), supported by the Phalen test and Tinel test as additional examinations. Data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test with a significance level of α = 0.05.
Results: The results showed that the majority of respondents had a moderate duration of computer use. Statistical analysis indicated that there was no significant relationship between the duration of computer use and the risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome among final-year physiotherapy students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (p = 0,849).