Chronic neck pain and posture in computer office workers

Author(s)

Marcela Mendes Bragatto

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2015-02-12

Examining board members

Thais Cristina Chaves

• Advisor: Thais Cristina Chaves

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among computer office workers (COW) can vary between 10-62% and the most affected regions affected are the upper extremities, neck, head and spine. Musculoskeletal complaints in these workers have a multifactorial etiology and the main causes are postural aspects and psychosocial factors. The Maastricht Upper Extremity Questionnaire (MUEQ-Br) is one of the few tools available in the literature to evaluate ergonomic and psychosocial aspects of work related to computer use. Neck pain is the most common musculoskeletal complaints in COW. Coexistence between neck pain and Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) are commonly cited in the literature. The adoption of forward head posture for computer use may be linked to the onset of orofacial symptoms. The sitting position is the most widely adopted in the workplace especially when it involves the use of computer, however, to maintain this position for long periods, the adoption of awkward postures could be necessary, increasing the strain on the musculoskeletal system structures. Thus, maintenance of sitting posture may be related to the development of changes in body posture, TMD and neck disorders. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine associations between neck pain, TMD and changes in static body posture on COW with and without chronic neck pain. Material and Methods: The sample of this study was selected from the application of the Maastricht Upper Extremity Questionnaire which includes seven domains (work station, body posture, job control, job demands, break time, work environment and social support). The study included 52 women which work using computer into two groups: Group with chronic neck pain and disability (NPG, n = 26 - 36.50 years confidence interval 95% (CI): 33.40-36.60; 66.37 kg -CI: 62.48-70.26 and 1.62m - 95% CI: 1.60-1.65) and group without neck pain (WONPG, n = 26 - 33.81 years - CI: 33.66-36.95, 71.75 kg - CI: 65.90-77.60 m and 1.64 - CI: 1.62-1.67). As criteria inclusion, the employees should exercise the same function for at least 12 months (NPG, 110 months - CI: 73-147 / WONPG, 91 months - CI: 63-119) and use the computer for at least 4 hours day during the work day (NPG, 7:46 hours / day - CI: 7.10-7.83 / WONPG, 7:58 hours/day - CI: 7.23-7.92). In the group with chronic neck pain workers should present a positive report of chronic neck pain and falling within the criteria: a) neck pain for at least 3 months; b) pain intensity 3 on most days on a numerical pain scale (NPS) (0-10, where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst possible pain) and c) Neck pain related disability at least mild in the Neck Disability Index (NDI): 10-28% (5-14 points) - mild disability; 30-48% (15- 24 points) - moderate disability; 50-68% (25 - 35 points) - severe disability, 72% or more (36 or more points) - Complete. Clinical assessments for diagnosis of TMD was conducted using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD), evaluation of masticatory and neck pain through manual palpation and algometry pressure to obtain the pressure pain threshold (PPT) of craniocervical structures as well as evaluation of the static body posture by the use of photogrammetry. The data showed normal distribution according to the Shapiro Wilks test. The Student\'s t-test for independent samples (p <0.05) was used to compare the maximum score for each domain MUEQ-Br between the groups with and without chronic neck pain. Differences between the mean values of LDP and muscle tenderness between groups of workers without pain and chronic neck pain and to check for differences between the postural angles were verified by student t-test. For analysis of associations between TMD, disability related to neck pain, neck pain and \"aspects of the job\" (domains of MUEQ) a multivariate regression analysis was used. Differences between the percentage values were verified using chi-square test (p <0.05). The statistical package used was SPSS version 22. Results: The results showed that when comparing the domains of MUEQ-Br, the group with chronic neck pain scored highest in the area posture (NPG, 12.58 points - CI: 11.21-13.94 / WONPG, 9.42 - CI: 8-10.84) and complaints item (NPG, 17.46 - CI: 14.17-20.75 / WONPG, 8.58 - CI: 6.14 -11.02), and the total score of the questionnaire (NPG, 40.08 - CI: 35.01-45.15 / WONPG, 33.31 points - CI: 28.99-37.63). The volunteers with neck pain showed a higher percentage of diagnoses of TMD when compared with the group without pain (42.30% vs. 23:07%, p <0.05). The group with pain had higher pain intensity on manual palpation of the neck muscles, trapezius (midpoint) right (NPG, 4.03 - CI: 3.02-5.06 / WONPG, 1.46 - CI: 0.69-2.23) and right suboccipital (WONPG, 2.58 NPS - CI: 1.64-3.51 / WONP, 1.0 - CI: 0.42-1.58) and left (NPG, 2.15 - CI: 1.21-3.09 / WONP, 1.0 - CI: 0.46 -1.54) but the values of the LDP were not significant for any of the muscles tested between the groups with and without chronic neck pain. Also no significant differences were found in postural assessment between groups for the analyzed angles in the frontal plane face and anterior views and angles analyzed in the sagittal plane. The analysis of association between the variables, it was observed that when disability was considered the dependent variable in relation to the neck pain, total score MUEQ-Br (aspects of work) and TMD, we observed a strong association (R2 = 0.93) and all predictors showed significant in the model. Our results demonstrate that cervical disability is influenced by the TMD, neck pain and physical and psychosocial aspects of the computer work. Workers with neck pain showed a higher percentage of diagnoses of TMD when compared with the group of workers without neck pain, and the pain intensity on palpation of the neck muscles was significantly higher in computer workers with neck pain. Thus, it is possible to suggest an association between reporting of neck pain, neck related disability and TMD in the context of work involving the computer in women reporting chronic neck pain. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/24315-8 - Chronic Neck Pain Disorder and Posture in computer office worker
• Grantee: Marcela Mendes Bragatto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master