Prevalence of Rounded Shoulder in Computer Users: A Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

  • Abeera Arif Department of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan Author
  • Zonish Arif Department of Botany, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan Author
  • Abdul Hanan Department of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31580/pjmls.v5i2.1203

Keywords:

Computer users, Forward Shoulder, Neck Pain, Rounded Shoulder, Shoulder Pain

Abstract

Background and aim: The study's goal was to determine the prevalence of rounded shoulders in computer users. Computer technology has become a very important part of our lives. It impacts significantly our health, daily life and work and also the upper extremities of our body including shoulders, neck arms and hands. Methodology: The research is based on observation. The study enlisted the participation of 377 people in total. Both males and females were included. A demographic questionnaire of Age, BMI etc. was used and VAS was also added to the survey. The participants were observed and shoulders were measured by different tools using a goniometer/flexible scale and wall stand test. Data were collected according to working hours/screen time. Results: The results show 62.6% of participants with rounded shoulders. Most users were of young age and they spent different hours at the computer but minimum was 3 hours. There were 62.1% of users for more than a year and 41.6% of participants use a computer or laptop for more than 5 hours per day. The use of a computer for a long time without proper posture can cause rounded shoulders. Conclusion: It is concluded that poor, long and sustained posture can cause rounded shoulders. It is also observed that the use of technology for a long time without a healthy lifestyle is also a cause of pain in individuals but all have their own experiences. The best prevention of rounded shoulders is to sit in proper posture or wear shoulder belts while using devices.

Author Biographies

  • Abeera Arif, Department of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
    Background and aim: The study's goal was to determine the prevalence of rounded shoulders in computer users. Computer technology has become a very important part of our lives. It impacts significantly our health, daily life and work and also the upper extremities of our body including shoulders, neck arms and hands. Methodology: The research is based on observation. The study enlisted the participation of 377 people in total. Both males and females were included. A demographic questionnaire of Age, BMI etc. was used and VAS was also added to the survey. The participants were observed and shoulders were measured by different tools using a goniometer/flexible scale and wall stand test. Data were collected according to working hours/screen time. Results: The results show 62.6% of participants with rounded shoulders. Most users were of young age and they spent different hours at the computer but minimum was 3 hours. There were 62.1% of users for more than a year and 41.6% of participants use a computer or laptop for more than 5 hours per day. The use of a computer for a long time without proper posture can cause rounded shoulders. Conclusion: It is concluded that poor, long and sustained posture can cause rounded shoulders. It is also observed that the use of technology for a long time without a healthy lifestyle is also a cause of pain in individuals but all have their own experiences. The best prevention of rounded shoulders is to sit in proper posture or wear shoulder belts while using devices.
  • Zonish Arif, Department of Botany, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
    Background and aim: The study's goal was to determine the prevalence of rounded shoulders in computer users. Computer technology has become a very important part of our lives. It impacts significantly our health, daily life and work and also the upper extremities of our body including shoulders, neck arms and hands. Methodology: The research is based on observation. The study enlisted the participation of 377 people in total. Both males and females were included. A demographic questionnaire of Age, BMI etc. was used and VAS was also added to the survey. The participants were observed and shoulders were measured by different tools using a goniometer/flexible scale and wall stand test. Data were collected according to working hours/screen time. Results: The results show 62.6% of participants with rounded shoulders. Most users were of young age and they spent different hours at the computer but minimum was 3 hours. There were 62.1% of users for more than a year and 41.6% of participants use a computer or laptop for more than 5 hours per day. The use of a computer for a long time without proper posture can cause rounded shoulders. Conclusion: It is concluded that poor, long and sustained posture can cause rounded shoulders. It is also observed that the use of technology for a long time without a healthy lifestyle is also a cause of pain in individuals but all have their own experiences. The best prevention of rounded shoulders is to sit in proper posture or wear shoulder belts while using devices.
  • Abdul Hanan, Department of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
    Background and aim: The study's goal was to determine the prevalence of rounded shoulders in computer users. Computer technology has become a very important part of our lives. It impacts significantly our health, daily life and work and also the upper extremities of our body including shoulders, neck arms and hands. Methodology: The research is based on observation. The study enlisted the participation of 377 people in total. Both males and females were included. A demographic questionnaire of Age, BMI etc. was used and VAS was also added to the survey. The participants were observed and shoulders were measured by different tools using a goniometer/flexible scale and wall stand test. Data were collected according to working hours/screen time. Results: The results show 62.6% of participants with rounded shoulders. Most users were of young age and they spent different hours at the computer but minimum was 3 hours. There were 62.1% of users for more than a year and 41.6% of participants use a computer or laptop for more than 5 hours per day. The use of a computer for a long time without proper posture can cause rounded shoulders. Conclusion: It is concluded that poor, long and sustained posture can cause rounded shoulders. It is also observed that the use of technology for a long time without a healthy lifestyle is also a cause of pain in individuals but all have their own experiences. The best prevention of rounded shoulders is to sit in proper posture or wear shoulder belts while using devices.

References

Eltayeb S, Staal JB, Kennes J, Lamberts PH, de Bie RA. Prevalence of complaints of arm, neck and shoulder among computer office workers and psychometric evaluation of a risk factor questionnaire. BMC musculoskeletal disorders 2007;8(1):1-11.

Eltayeb SM, Staal JB, Hassan AA, Awad SS, de Bie RA. Complaints of the arm, neck and shoulder among computer office workers in Sudan: a prevalence study with validation of an Arabic risk factors questionnaire. Environmental Health 2008;7(1):1-11.

Sadeghian F, Raei M, Amiri M. Persistent of neck/shoulder pain among computer office workers with specific attention to pain expectation, somatization tendency, and beliefs. International journal of preventive medicine 2014;5(9):1169.

Andersen JH, Harhoff M, Grimstrup S. Computer mouse use predicts acute pain but not prolonged or chronic pain in the neck and shoulder. Occupational and environmental medicine 2008;65(2):126-31.

Steinfeld R, Valente RM, Stuart MJ. A commonsense approach to shoulder problems. InMayo Clinic Proceedings 1999; 74(8):785-794.

Burbank KM, Stevenson JH, Czarnecki GR, Dorfman J. Chronic shoulder pain: part II. Treatment. American family physician. 2008;77(4):493-7.

Bamji AN, Erhardt CC, Price TR, Williams PL. The painful shoulder: can consultants agree?. Rheumatology. 1995;35(11):1172-4.

Mosaad DM, Abdel-aziem AA, Mohamed GI, Abd-Elaty EA, Mohammed KS. Effect of forward head and rounded shoulder posture on hand grip strength in asymptomatic young adults: a cross-sectional study. Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy. 2020;25(1):1-8

Morais N, Cruz J. The pectoralis minor muscle and shoulder movement- related impairments and pain: Rationale, assessment and management. Physical Therapy in Sport. 2016;17:1-3.

Oatis CA. Kinesiology the mechanics and pathomechanics of human movement. Wolters Kluwer; 2009.

Gold JE, Driban JB, Thomas N, Chakravarty T, Channell V, Komaroff EG. Postures, typing strategies, and gender differences in mobile device usage: An observational study. Applied ergonomics. 2012;43(2):408-12.

Griegel-Morris P, Larson K, Mueller-Klaus K, Oatis CA. Incidence of common postural abnormalities in the cervical, shoulder, and thoracic regions and their association with pain in two age groups of healthy subjects. Physical therapy. 1992;72(6):425-31.

Roman-Liu D, Tokarski T. Upper limb strength in relation to upper limb posture. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. 2005;35(1):19-31.

Mani L, Gerr F. Work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 2000;27(4):845-64.

Brisson C, Montreuil S, Punnett L. Effects of an ergonomic training program on workers with video display units. Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health. 1999:255-63.

Mekhora K, Liston CB, Nanthavanij S, Cole JH. The effect of ergonomic intervention on discomfort in computer users with tension neck syndrome. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. 2000;26(3):367-79.

Javed MS, Qamar MM, Basharat A, Nazir A, Ishaq A, Malik SA, Hussain G, Sheikh IS. Ageing Affects the Myo-Nulcear Domain in the Slow and Fast Muscle Fiber Depicting the Myofibers-Specific Dissimilarities with the Age. Pak-Euro Journal of Medical and Life Sciences. 2021;4(3):101-6.

Hagg G. Static workloads and occupational myalgia-a new explanation model. Electromyographical kinesiology. 1991:141-4.

Sjøgaard G, Søgaard K. Muscle injury in repetitive motion disorders. Clinical orthopaedics and related research. 1998;1(351):21-31. 52

Laursen B, Jensen BR, Garde AH, Jørgensen AH. Effect of mental and physical demands on muscular activity during the use of a computer mouse and a keyboard. Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health. 2002:215-21.

Lundberg U, Forsman M, Zachau G, Eklöf M, Palmerud G, Melin B, Kadefors R. Effects of experimentally induced mental and physical stress on motor unit recruitment in the trapezius muscle. Work & Stress. 2002;16(2):166-78.

Downloads

Published

2022-06-30

Issue

Section

Research Article

How to Cite

Prevalence of Rounded Shoulder in Computer Users: A Cross-Sectional Study. (2022). Pak-Euro Journal of Medical and Life Sciences, 5(2), 520 (vii)-520 (xiv). https://doi.org/10.31580/pjmls.v5i2.1203

Similar Articles

11-20 of 37

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.