Evaluation of working posture and neck pain among IT professionals - an observational study

Abstract

Objectives. Understanding working posture among information technologies (IT) professionals can help in specifying postural risks that make this population vulnerable to work-related musculoskeletal pain. This study analysed the working posture and risk of neck disability among IT professionals, as well as identifying their correlations. Methods. After recording demographic data, working posture and neck pain were assessed using rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) and the neck disability index (NDI). Subjects were also evaluated for cervical endurance and neck range of motion using pressure biofeedback and a universal goniometer. Results. In total, 71% of subjects reported mild discomfort, while 6.25% had a serious posture problem in RULA; 47.9% of IT professionals reported positive for neck pain with mild neck disability. Subjects with neck pain showed statistically significant neck disability and reduced left cervical rotation. Finally, the NDI showed a weak negative correlation with neck rotation, and RULA indicated a weak negative correlation with neck lateral flexion and rotation. Conclusion. IT professionals have improper posture at the workstation, with many subjects reporting positive findings for neck pain and mild neck disability. Also, the greater the neck disability and RULA scores, the lower the neck mobility for lateral flexion and rotation.

Keywords: cervicalgia; computers; ergonomic; musculoskeletal diseases; posture.