Position of document holder and work related risk factors for neck pain among computer users: a narrative review.

Document holder is used as a remedy to address occupational neck pain among computer users. An understanding on the effects of the document holder along with other work related risk factors while working in computer workstation requires attention. A comprehensive knowledge on the optimal location of the document holder in computer use and associated work related factors that may contribute to neck pain reviewed in this article. A literature search has been conducted over the past 14 years based on the published articles from January 1990 to January 2014 in both Science Direct and PubMed databases. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) keywords for search were neck muscle OR head posture OR muscle tension' OR muscle activity OR work related disorders OR neck pain AND/OR document location OR document holder OR source document OR copy screen holder.Document holder placed lateral to the screen was most preferred to reduce neck discomfort among occupational typists. Document without a holder was placed flat on the surface is least preferred. The head posture and muscle activity increases when the document is placed flat on the surface compared to when placed on the document holder. Work related factors such as static posture, repetitive movement, prolong sitting and awkward positions were the risk factors for chronic neck pain. This review highlights the optimal location for document holder for computer users to reduce neck pain. Together, the importance of work related risk factors for to neck pain on occupational typist is emphasized for the clinical management.

Prolonged writing task: comparison of electromyographic analysis of upper trapezius muscle in subjects with or without neck pain.

OBJECTIVES: Work related musculoskeletal disorders represent a serious public health problem as it is a leading cause for disability and absenteeism in workers. The main purpose of the present quasi-experimental study was to compare the muscle activity of the upper trapezius in subjects with neck pain and compare it to those of normal subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty subjects were recruited for this study after prior screening for neck pain. A Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used for analysis of neck pain in both symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. All the subjects were briefed about the study procedures and due consent was obtained prior to the start of the trial. The subjects were instructed to write for 30 minutes under standardized experimental conditions during which the activity of the upper trapezius was recorded using surface electromyography (EMG). RESULTS: The comparison of the results in the symptomatic and asymptomatic group showed that the mean EMG activity of upper trapezius muscle was significantly higher in the former as compared to the later group (p < 0.05). The symptomatic group showed greater increase in muscle activity as compared to the asymptomatic group. CONCLUSION: Our results depict that prolong and continuous writing tasks show overuse of upper trapezius and altered motor control pattern in symptomatic subjects as compared to the normal asymptomatic subjects.

Effect of pubertal developmental stages and lower limb kinetics during vertical jump task in Sepak Takraw sport.

Sepak Takraw is a sport which actively involves the lower limb. A cross sectional study was performed to investigate the lower limb kinetics (ground reaction force, flight time and contact time) involved during the vertical jumping and landing task between the early pubertal and late pubertal stages in National level Sepak Takraw athletes in Malaysia. Twenty athletes (8 pre pubertal and 12 late pubertal) with no previous history of any physical injuries were taken for the study. The kinetics data of the vertical jump task was calculated using a force platform 3-AMTI Biomechanics Force Platform. The Silicon ProCoach (Chart 5 software) was used to collect the ground reaction force signals, flight time and contact time. The results showed a non-significant decrease in peak ground reaction force in the post pubertal group as compared to the pre pubertal group (t(18)=0.659, p=0.518,CI(95)(-2.54, 4.86). Comparison of flight time between the two age groups showed a significant increase in the post pubertal group with mean and SD (0.7773 + or - 0.03) as compared to the pre pubertal group mean and SD (0.7296 + or - 0.05), which was statistically considered significant (p<0.05) (t(18)=-2.401, p<0.05,CI(95)(-0.089, -0.005). The findings from this study demonstrated that the flight time of the vertical jump task differed between the pre and post pubertal athletes with the post pubertal group having an improved ability in maintaining longer duration of flight phase.