@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2252-0805    The Horizon of Medical Sciences 2015;21(3):197-203

Background
… [1-7] In working with computers, high incidence of musculoskeletal problems have been reported in different areas of the body such as neck, back, shoulders, arms, wrists, fingers, and feet in computer users by the researchers [8-11]. Neck pain and associated complications are the most common cause of disability among computer users [12, 13].
Previous Studies
The results of a study on 1428 computer users within 12 months showed the prevalence of these complications in head and neck as 42%, below the waist as 34%, above the waist as 28%, wrists and hands as 20%, shoulder as 16%, ankles as 13%, knees as 12%, hip as 6% and elbow as 5% [14]. Previous studies, have been reported relatively high prevalence of complications specially neck pain and its side effects. … [15-18]
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise therapy program and an ergonomic intervention on chronic neck pain in the computer users.
Research type
This is a quasi-experimental and cross-sectional study.
Research society, place and time
Female computer users working in Lorestan University of Medical Sciences (Iran) were studied in 2012.
Sampling method and number
30 computer users were selected purposefully using a researcher-made demographic information questionnaire that evaluated and approved by a number of professors [19]. Inclusion criteria included being female, having the history of more than 6 month chronic neck pain, and filling the consent form. Exclusion criteria were cases such as regular daily and weekly exercise, neck pain caused by strike, surgery on the spine, history of using any drug or therapeutic measures to solve the problem of neck pain, cervical spine congenital disorders and certain diseases associated with musculoskeletal disorders of the neck (rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis of the spine, head and neck cancer, tumors, etc.).
Used devices&materials
The subjects, according to the type of intervention, were divided in to two groups including control and experimental groups each had 15 subjects. The exercise program was designed for experimental group for a period of two months, three sessions per week, and each session lasting approximately 30-45 minutes. Method of training was designed in a way that they were applicable in the workplace and home. The selection and the method of exercise implementation were from easy to difficult that in the first sessions the exercises were easier and had less severity, frequency, repetition and duration, and in subsequent sessions, according to participants` abilities, the severity of exercises were gradually increased and they became more difficult. Firstly, 4 exercises were presented to stretch the four major muscle groups around the neck. Then, 4 isometric exercises were presented to strengthen these four muscle groups, and finally, due to the close connection between neck disorders and shoulders, 2 exercises were presented for strength, stabilization and relaxation of neck and shoulder muscles [20, 21]. In both groups, pretest was administrated. Also, no other health measurement was administrated for control group. The research instrument was neck pain and disability questionnaire. This questionnaire is a self-management scale which contains 20 sections and four dimensions of the neck pain severity, neck pain disorders, neck pain effect on emotions and interference with daily activities. Each section is ranged from zero (which means no pain and normal operation) to 10 (very severe pain). The patient answers each section by tagging along continuum of 100mm visual analogue scale. This scale has been used in different studies [19, 22]. Its validity is very high and its reliability has been reported 91% [23]. The total score is calculated using the formula: (Score Obtained from the Questionnaire×100)/ 200. This questionnaire has been translated and localized in Iran and its reliability and validity has been reported high [24]. After collecting data, the amount of the difference between pretest and posttest of pain and disability was calculated and then it was evaluated through Independent T-test. To examine the correlation between chronic neck pain and disability and working experience of participants, Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS16 software.
Findings by Text
The mean age of participants was 32.63 ± 3.97years. The mean height was 163.43 ± 4.62cm. The mean weight was 64.40 ± 5.82kg. The mean value of their working experience was 9.5 ± 6.0years (table 1). The mean difference between pretest and posttest of chronic neck pain and disability scores had significant difference in the two groups, and the mean difference between pretest and posttest was negative and significant in the experimental group (Table 2). No significant correlation was found between the working experience and the severity of pain and disability in neck.
Main comparison to the similar studies
Chronic neck pain and disability of experimental group carried out exercise-therapy and ergonomic intervention for 2 months became improved compared to the control group. These results are consistent with the results of other studies [17, 19, 25-30]. Neuromuscular facilitation exercises are more effective in reducing pain than traditional exercise, and the pain reduction was reported 78.1% in neuromuscular facilitation training group and it was reported 31.3% in the traditional exercise group [25]. Therapeutic exercises and general care neck significantly reduce the neck pain and disability scores in subjects before the intervention [19]. Even long term (12 months) low intensity of strengthening and stretching exercises can have a positive effect on chronic neck pain [26]. Both training programs especially on pain and disability in neck reduce the pain and disability, although the reduction of pain and disability was not significant in the two training groups [27]. Both methods of strengthening and endurance exercises reduce the neck pain [17]. … [31-38] There was no significant correlation between the intensity of pain neck and disability and working experience of subjects who had chronic neck pain. This is in line with the results of other studies [11, 39]. There is no significant correlation between the work duration with computer and pain or between duration of working with mouse and pain [11]. However, the results of this study are in contrast with the results of some other studies [9, 40]. The prevalence of neck pain is associated with increased use of mouse and keyboard [40]. Duration of Visual Display Terminal (VDT) is associated with the pain score in computer users [9]. … [41]
Suggestions
Exercise therapy and ergonomic intervention should be used as an appropriate method for rehabilitation of patients with chronic neck pain.
Limitations
The limitations of this study were the small number of subjects in the experimental and control groups and lack of uncertainty for strict observance of exercise-therapy training by the subjects.
Conclusions
Exercise–therapy and ergonomic intervention reduce the chronic neck pain and disability.
Acknowledgments
Staff of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences is appreciated.
Conflict of interest
There is no conflict of interest between the authors.
Ethical Permissions
The authors observed all codes of ethics of research on human subjects, and they received all necessary permissions from the competent authorities.
Funding Sources
This study was carried out without the financial support of any particular institution.

TABLES and CHARTS

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