Effects of risk factors related to computer use on musculoskeletal pain in office workers.

Purpose. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are increasing due to overuse of desktop computers. This investigation examined musculoskeletal pain in office workers. Methods. Sociodemographic factors were recorded for 362 participants (female, 50.8%; male, 49.2%; mean age 37.35 ± 8.43 years). Participants were questioned for their daily working time, computer usage time and years, whether musculoskeletal pain was related to their job and whether pain disturbed their activities of daily living (ADLs). Working postures were observed and pain severity was evaluated by visual analog scale. Results. Participants more frequently had upper back pain (69.6%), neck pain (65.2%) and lower back pain (LBP) (64.1%) during the last 12 months; 60.5% of participants reported pain after they started work. LBP (32.9%), back pain (28.2%) and neck pain (22.9%) restricted participants' daily life. We found positive correlations between daily computer use and neck/upper back, and LBP. Conclusions. The most painful areas of participants using desktop computers were the upper back, neck, lower back and shoulder, and the pain in these regions affected ADLs negatively. This pain mostly occurred after the current job and these individuals experience more intense pain. Ergonomic approaches could reduce WMSDs and make workers more independent in ADLs and prevent chronicity.

The efficacy of manual soft-tissue mobilization in ankylosing spondylitis: A randomized controlled study.

AIM: The aim of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the effect of soft-tissue mobilization in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHOD: Twenty-one patients (mean age 44.57 ± 10.40 years) were randomly divided into two groups. There were 13 patients (11 females, 2 males, age 43.69 ± 9.94 years) in the intervention group and 8 patients (5 females, 3 males, age 46.00 ± 11.67 years) in the control group. In the intervention group, soft-tissue mobilization therapy and 20 spinal mobility exercises were applied. The control group received only 20 spinal mobility exercises. The Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), and Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI) were used for assessment of disease activity, functional level, and mobility, respectively. Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) for quality of life and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) were used to determine disability levels. RESULTS: We found significant differences between pretreatment and post-treatment scores of BASDAI (P = 0.049); BASFI (P = 0.009; lateral lumbar flexion (P = 0.005), maximal intermalleolar distance (P = 0.001) and total score (P = 0.001) of BASMI; pain subtest (P = 0.036) and total score (P = 0.036) of NHP; and RMDQ score (P = 0.004) in the intervention group. However, in the control group the BASMI score (P = 0.049) was observed to worsen significantly. Delta values were compared and differences in BASFI (P = 0.039), and in lateral lumbar flexion (P = 0.027), maximal intermalleolar distance (P = 0.045) and total score (P = 0.001) of BASMI were significant in favor of intervention group. Only tragus-to-wall distance (P = 0.039) of BASMI was observed to worsen significantly in the control group. CONCLUSION: We recommend the use of soft-tissue mobilization in addition to the exercises to treat AS patients.