Prevention and treatment of pain syndromes in office workers by myorelaxation and stretching
Keywords:
Physiotherapy, musculoskeletal disorders, myorelaxation, stretching.Abstract
Sitting at a desk or computer can lead to muscle tension, stiffness, and strain in the neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, back, and legs which can lead to a musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). Purpose of the study was to investigate the effect myorelaxation and stretching on pain and functional abilities of office-workers with MSD. A total of 64 patients (mean age 42, SD 8.5) were included in the analysis. Patients were randomly assigned to either myorelaxation group (MG) or to stretching group (SG) for a period of 6 months. All subjects received the same prevention programme of 15 myorelaxation or stretching exercises. Results: The MG had a significantly greater improvement than the SG in function and pain measured with the PSFS (P<.0001) (between group mean differences 15.2, 95% CI 9.2-21.3).
Significantly lower pain intensity (assessed with VAS) was reported by the MG at the six month assessment compared with the SG in activity (P<.001), at rest (P< .01) and at night (P<.01). Follow up data showed that 85% of subjects from MG maintained the improved level of function and 81% of the subjects remained pain free for at least 1 year post treatment. The findings of this study provide strong evidence for a prevention effect of myorelaxation and stretching on musculoskeletal disorders.
References
Delisle A, Lariviere C, et al. (2006) Comparison of three computer workstations offering forearm support: impact on upper limb posture and muscle activation. Ergonomics, 49(2):139–60.
Lewit, K. (1986). Post isometric relaxation in combination with other methods of muscular facilitation and inhibition. Man Med 2: 101-4.
Mitchell Jr., F, et al. (1979). An evaluation of osteopathic muscle energy procedures. Valley Park, MO: 51-4.
Novak CB (2004) Upper extremity work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a treatment perspective. J Orthop Sports Phys, 10:628–37
Stratford, P., Gill, C., Westaway, M., & Binkley, J. (1995). Assessing disability and change on individual patients: a report of a patient specific measure. Physiotherapy Canada, 47, 258-263.
Summers, Bajorek and Bevan (2014) Self-management of chronic musculoskeletal disorders and employment. Lancaster: Lancaster University - The Work Foundation. Available at: http://www.theworkfoundation.com/DownloadPublication/Report/370_REPORT%20-%20Selfmanagement%20of%20chronic%20musculoskeletal%20disorders.pdf
Suni J, Rinne M, et al. (2006) Control of the lumbar neutral zone decreases low back pain and improves self-evaluated work ability: a 12-month randomized controlled study. Spine, 15; 31(18):E611–20
Woolf, A. D., & Phleger, B. (2003) Burden of major musculoskeletal conditions. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 81(9).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors publishing in this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication, while the work is also licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which allows others to share this work acknowledging its author and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the work in the version published in the journal (for example, to publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are allowed and encouraged to share their work online (for example, on their websites) before and during the editorial process of their contribution, as such a practice can lead to productive exchanges of ideas and also earlier and higher citation of the published work (See the Open Access Effect).