Prolonged slumped sitting causes neck pain and increased axioscapular muscle activity during a computer task in healthy participants - A randomized crossover study

Steffan Wittrup McPhee Christensen; Thorvaldur Skuli Palsson; Hans Jørgen Krebs; Thomas Graven-Nielsen; Rogerio Pessoto Hirata

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104020

Prolonged slumped sitting causes neck pain and increased axioscapular muscle activity during a computer task in healthy participants - A randomized crossover study

Appl Ergon. 2023 Jul:110:104020. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104020. Epub 2023 Mar 21.

Authors

Steffan Wittrup McPhee Christensen¹, Thorvaldur Skuli Palsson², Hans Jørgen Krebs³, Thomas Graven-Nielsen⁴, Rogerio Pessoto Hirata⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Denmark; Department of Physiotherapy, University College of Northern Denmark (UCN), Aalborg, Denmark. Electronic address: stc@hst.aau.dk.
² Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Denmark; Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark.
³ Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Denmark.
⁴ Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark.
⁵ Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Denmark; Sport Sciences - Performance and Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology Aalborg University, Denmark.

PMID: 36958253
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104020

Abstract

Introduction: Sitting posture may contribute to spinal pain. Effects of postures on pain, sensitivity and muscle activity during computer tasks were investigated.

Methods: Twenty-five healthy participants, seated at a workstation without backrest, completed four, 15-min typing tasks: A)Upright with forearm-support; B)Upright without forearm-support; C)Slumped with forearm-support; D)Slumped without forearm-support. Participants rated pain every minute on a numerical rating scale (NRS). RMS-EMG was recorded from upper/lower trapezius (UT, LT), serratus anterior and anterior/middle deltoid. At baseline and after tasks, pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were recorded bilaterally over the head, UT, and leg.

Results: All tasks caused clinically relevant increased NRS (≥2/10) compared to baseline (P < 0.001). NRS was higher in Task-D (P < 0.003) and lower in Task-B (P < 0.005) than others. PPTs did not change from baseline. Task-D caused higher UT and LT RMS-EMG (P < 0.02) than other tasks.

Conclusion: A 15-min task caused pain irrespective of posture with some causing larger changes than others.

Keywords: Electromyography; Neck pain; Pain intensity; Pain sensitivity; Posture; Spine.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Computers
Cross-Over Studies
Electromyography
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
Neck Pain* / etiology
Sitting Position
Superficial Back Muscles*