Volume 12, Issue 4 (Autumn 2023)                   J Occup Health Epidemiol 2023, 12(4): 251-259 | Back to browse issues page

Ethics code: IR.QUMS.REC.1399.374


XML Print


Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

Tabanfar S, Sobhani S, Safari Variani A, Varmazyar S. The Impact of Strengthening the Neck Muscles on the Pain Prevalence and Neck Disability among Office Workers at Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in 2021, Iran. J Occup Health Epidemiol 2023; 12 (4) :251-259
URL: http://johe.rums.ac.ir/article-1-716-en.html

Related article in
Google Scholar

1- M.Sc. in Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Science, Qazvin, Iran.
2- Ph.D. Student in Occupational Health Engineering, Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
3- Associate Prof. Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
4- Professor, Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, Social Determinants of Health Research Center and Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Faculty of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran. , svarmazyar@qums.ac.ir
Article history
Received: 2023/03/1
Accepted: 2023/09/30
ePublished: 2023/12/15
Abstract:   (117 Views)
Background: Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders among office workers. This study aimed to investigate the impact of strengthening the neck muscles on pain prevalence and neck disability among office workers.
Materials & Methods: This interventional study was performed among 85 University office workers (female=50 and male=35). Participants were randomly divided into the two groups (exercise group=42 subjects and control group=43 subjects). The exercise intervention was performed for 12 weeks, five sessions per week, and each session lasted approximately 15 minutes in the experimental group. Evaluations were performed at baseline and after 12 weeks: demographic questionnaire, Nordic questionnaire for measuring neck pain prevalence, and Neck Disability Index (NDI) for measuring functional disability were applied. The neck pain prevalence and NDI were compared before and after the intervention using McNemar and paired t-tests.
Results: 47.05% and 40% of all participants reported neck pain during the last 12 months and the last seven days, respectively. The neck pain prevalence during the last seven days (P<0.05) and NDI (P<0.01) after exercise were significantly decreased comparing to the other group.
Conclusion: About half of the office workers suffer from neck pain, and exercise intervention can improve and reduce the prevalence of neck pain and NDI by strengthening neck muscles.
Full-Text [PDF 491 kb]   (28 Downloads)    

References
1. Fredin K, Lorås H. Manual therapy, exercise therapy or combined treatment in the management of adult neck pain–a systematic review and meta-analysis. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2017;31:62-71. [DOI] [PMID]
2. Alshami AM, AlSadiq AI. Outcomes of scapulothoracic mobilisation in patients with neck pain and scapular dyskinesis: A randomised clinical trial. J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2021;16(4):540-9. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
3. Iqbal ZA, Alghadir AH, Anwer S. Efficacy of deep cervical flexor muscle training on neck pain, functional disability, and muscle endurance in school teachers: a clinical trial. Biomed Res Int. 2021;2021:7190808 [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
4. Lin IH, Chang KH, Liou TH, Tsou CM, Huang YC. Progressive shoulder-neck exercise on cervical muscle functions in middle-aged and senior patients with chronic neck pain. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2018;54(1):13-21. [DOI] [PMID]
5. Cagnie B, Danneels L, Van Tiggelen D, De Loose V, Cambier D. Individual and work related risk factors for neck pain among office workers: a cross sectional study. Eur Spine J. 2007;16(5):679-86. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
6. Rodríguez-Sanz J, Malo-Urriés M, Corral-de-Toro J, López-de-Celis C, Lucha-López MO, Tricás-Moreno JM, et al. Does the addition of manual therapy approach to a cervical exercise program improve clinical outcomes for patients with chronic neck pain in short-and mid-term? A randomized controlled trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(18):6601. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
7. Sitthipornvorakul E, Sihawong R, Waongenngarm P, Janwantanakul P. The effects of walking intervention on preventing neck pain in office workers: a randomized controlled trial. J Occup Health. 2020;62(1):e12106. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
8. Tunwattanapong P, Kongkasuwan R, Kuptniratsaikul V. The effectiveness of a neck and shoulder stretching exercise program among office workers with neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2016;30(1):64-72. [DOI] [PMID]
9. da Silva NC, Ricci FPFM, de Castro VR, de Lima ACR, do Carmo Lopes ER, de Salvo Mauad LD, et al. Effects of workplace upper extremity resistance exercises on function and symptoms of workers at a tertiary hospital: a randomized controlled trial protocol. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022;23(1):119. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
10. Kazeminasab S, Nejadghaderi SA, Amiri P, Pourfathi H, Araj-Khodaei M, Sullman MJM, et al. Neck pain: global epidemiology, trends and risk factors. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022;23(1):26. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
11. Markopoulos P, Shen X, Wang Q, Timmermans A. Neckio: Motivating neck exercises in computer workers. Sensors (Basel). 2020;20(17):4928. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
12. Mohammadipour F, Pourranjbar M, Naderi S, Rafie F. Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Iranian Office Workers: Prevalence and Risk Factors. J Med Life. 2018;11(4):328-33. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
13. Sohrabi MS, Babamiri M. Effectiveness of an ergonomics training program on musculoskeletal disorders, job stress, quality of work-life and productivity in office workers: a quasi-randomized control trial study. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2022;28(3):1664-71. [DOI] [PMID]
14. Nunes A, Espanha M, Teles J, Petersen K, Arendt-Nielsen L, Carnide F. Neck pain prevalence and associated occupational factors in Portuguese office workers. Int J Ind Ergon. 2021;85:103172. [DOI]
15. Louw S, Makwela S, Manas L, Meyer L, Terblanche D, Brink Y. Effectiveness of exercise in office workers with neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. S Afr J Physiother. 2017;73(1):392. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
16. Tabanfar S, Safari Variani A, Sobhani S, Varmazyar S. The Effect of Self-management Exercises on Neck Pain and Head and Neck Angles among Iranian University Employees: An Interventional Study. Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology. 2022;11(2):138-47 [DOI]
17. Abdel-Aziem AA, Draz AH. Efficacy of deep neck flexor exercise for neck pain: A randomized controlled study. Turk J Phys Med Rehabil. 2016;62(2):107-15. [DOI]
18. Bernal-Utrera C, Gonzalez-Gerez JJ, Anarte-Lazo E, Rodriguez-Blanco C. Manual therapy versus therapeutic exercise in non-specific chronic neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2020;21(1):682. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
19. Petersen SM, Wyatt SN. Lower trapezius muscle strength in individuals with unilateral neck pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2011;41(4):260-5. [DOI] [PMID]
20. Karaağaç A, Arslan SA, Keskin ED. Assessment of pain, scapulothoracic muscle strength, endurance and scapular dyskinesis in individuals with and without nonspecific chronic neck pain: A cross-sectional study. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2023;35:261-7. [DOI] [PMID]
21. Dere T, Alemdaroğlu-Gürbüz İ. Muscular endurance and its association with neck pain, disability, neck awareness, and kinesiophobia in patients with chronic neck pain. Somatosens Mot Res. 2023:1-8. [DOI] [PMID]
22. Griffiths C, Dziedzic K, Waterfield J, Sim J. Effectiveness of specific neck stabilization exercises or a general neck exercise program for chronic neck disorders: a randomized controlled trial. J Rheumatol. 2009;36(2):390-7. [DOI] [PMID]
23. Gross A, Kay TM, Paquin JP, Blanchette S, Lalonde P, Christie T, et al. Exercises for mechanical neck disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015(1):CD004250. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
24. Seo J, Song C, Shin D. A Single-Center Study Comparing the Effects of Thoracic Spine Manipulation vs Mobility Exercises in 26 Office Workers with Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study. Med Sci Monit. 2022;28:e937316. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
25. Daher A, Carel RS, Tzipi K, Esther H, Dar G. The effectiveness of an aerobic exercise training on patients with neck pain during a short- and long-term follow-up: a prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2020;34(5):617-29. [DOI] [PMID]
26. Welch A, Healy G, Straker L, Comans T, O’Leary S, Melloh M, et al. Process evaluation of a workplace-based health promotion and exercise cluster-randomised trial to increase productivity and reduce neck pain in office workers: a RE-AIM approach. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):180. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
27. Ting JZR, Chen X, Johnston V. Workplace-based exercise intervention improves work ability in office workers: a cluster randomised controlled trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(15):2633. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
28. Shariat A, Cleland JA, Danaee M, Kargarfard M, Sangelaji B, Tamrin SBM. Effects of stretching exercise training and ergonomic modifications on musculoskeletal discomforts of office workers: a randomized controlled trial. Braz J Phys Ther. 2018;22(2):144-53. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
29. Tejera DM, Beltran-Alacreu H, Cano-de-la-Cuerda R, Leon Hernández JV, Martín-Pintado-Zugasti A, Calvo-Lobo C, et al. Effects of virtual reality versus exercise on pain, functional, somatosensory and psychosocial outcomes in patients with non-specific chronic neck pain: A randomized clinical trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(16):5950. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
30. Villanueva A, Rabal-Pelay J, Berzosa C, Gutiérrez H, Cimarras-Otal C, Lacarcel-Tejero B, et al. Effect of a Long Exercise Program in the Reduction of Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Office Workers. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(23):9042. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
31. Sarraf F, Varmazyar S. Comparing the effect of the posture of using smartphones on head and neck angles among college students. Ergonomics. 2022;65(12):1631-8. [DOI] [PMID]
32. Rahimi F, Kazemi K, Zahednejad S, López-López D, Calvo-Lobo C. Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Iranian physical therapists: a cross-sectional study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2018;41(6):503-7. [DOI] [PMID]
33. Veisi H, Choobineh AR, Ghaem H. Musculoskeletal problems in Iranian hand-woven shoe-sole making operation and developing guidelines for workstation design. Int J Occup Environ Med. 2016;7(2):87-97. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
34. Choobineh A, Lahmi M, Shahnavaz H, Khani Jazani RK, Hosseini M. Musculoskeletal symptoms as related to ergonomic factors in Iranian hand-woven carpet industry and general guidelines for workstation design. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2004;10(2):157-68. [DOI] [PMID]
35. Eftekhar Sadat B, Babaei-Ghazani A, Azizi R, Parizad M. Prevalence and risk factors of neck and shoulder pain in medical students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Med J Tabriz Univ Med Sci. 2013;35(3):12-7 [Article]
36. Alfawaz S, Lohman E, Alameri M, Daher N, Jaber H. Effect of adding stretching to standardized procedures on cervical range of motion, pain, and disability in patients with non-specific mechanical neck pain: A randomized clinical trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2020;24(3):50-8. [DOI] [PMID]
37. Kaya Aytutuldu G, Birinci T, Tarakcı E. Musculoskeletal pain and its relation to individual and work-related factors: A cross-sectional study among Turkish office workers who work using computers. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2020;28(2):790-7. [DOI] [PMID]
38. Jaroenrungsup Y, Kanchanomai S, Khruakhorn S. Effects of self-posture correction exercise in forward head posture of smartphone users. J Sci Technol. 2021;43(2):439. [Article]
39. O'Riordan C, Clifford A, Van De Ven P, Nelson J. Chronic neck pain and exercise interventions: frequency, intensity, time, and type principle. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014;95(4):770-83. [DOI] [PMID]
40. Sarraf F, Abbasi S, Varmazyar S. Self-Management Exercises Intervention on Text Neck Syndrome Among University Students Using Smartphones. Pain Manag Nurs. 2023;24(6):595-602. [DOI] [PMID]
41. Valipour Noroozi M, Hajibabaei M, Saki A, Memari Z. Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among office workers. Jundishapur J Health Sci. 2015;7(1):e27157. [DOI]
42. Fortún-Rabadán R, Jiménez-Sánchez C, Flores-Yaben O, Bellosta-López P. Workplace physiotherapy for musculoskeletal pain-relief in office workers: A pilot study. J Educ Health Promot. 2021;10:75. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
43. Kelly D, Shorthouse F, Roffi V, Tack C. Exercise therapy and work-related musculoskeletal disorders in sedentary workers. Occup Med (Lond). 2018;68(4):262-72. [DOI] [PMID]
44. Andersen LL, Christensen KB, Holtermann A, Poulsen OM, Sjøgaard G, Pedersen MT, et al. Effect of physical exercise interventions on musculoskeletal pain in all body regions among office workers: a one-year randomized controlled trial. Man Ther. 2010;15(1):100-4. [DOI] [PMID]
45. Mehtab S, Zamurd N. Comparison of isometric neck exercises and stretching with ergonomic modifications versus isometric neck exercises and stretching for mechanical neck pain: A randomized controlled trail: J Riphah Coll Rehabil Sci. 2019;7(1):7-11. [Article]
46. Im B, Kim Y, Chung Y, Hwang S. Effects of scapular stabilization exercise on neck posture and muscle activation in individuals with neck pain and forward head posture. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(3):951-5. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
47. Kang NY, Im SC, Kim K. Effects of a combination of scapular stabilization and thoracic extension exercises for office workers with forward head posture on the craniovertebral angle, respiration, pain, and disability: A randomized-controlled trial. Turk J Phys Med Rehabil. 2021;67(3):291-9. [DOI] [PMID] [PMCID]
48. Lee J, Lee M, Lim T, Kim T, Kim S, Suh D, et al. Effectiveness of an application-based neck exercise as a pain management tool for office workers with chronic neck pain and functional disability: a pilot randomized trial. Eur J Integr Med. 2017;12:87-92. [DOI]

Add your comments about this article : Your username or Email:
CAPTCHA

Send email to the article author


Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

© 2024 CC BY-NC 4.0 | Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology

Designed & Developed by : Yektaweb