Relationship Between Upper Extremity Syndrome and Neck Pain in Students Using Computer

Upper Cross Syndrome is a complication of muscle imbalance that occurs in people with  forward head , kyphosis, and forward shoulder. The formation of this posture is very common when working with computers. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between upper extremity syndrome and neck pain in students using computer.

56 students with neck pain with a mean age of 15 ± 2.53 and an average weight of 60.50 ± 4.41 as available samples (students using computer at Amir Kabir and Ghazali School in Divandere) were chosen. A Jain camera and AutoCAD software were used to measure the head forward, a flexible ruler was used to measure kyphosis, and a ruler was used to measure the shoulder forward from the last appendage to the wall. The VAS visual scale was also used to measure pain. Pearson correlation and regression were used for statistical analysis and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate the normality of the data.

There was a significant relationship between head protrusion with neck pain (p <0.003, r = -0.402), increased kyphosis with neck in (p <0.001, r = 0.295) shoulder forward with Neck pain was obtained (p <0.007, r = 0.376). The results also showed that there was a significant relationship between upper extremity syndrome or neck pain (r = 0.458).

Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that being in inappropriate positions such as being behind a computer for many years can cause the mentioned positional abnormalities, also due to the relationship between neck pain and coming forward. Increased head, shoulders and kyphosis, in the training program of these users, emphasis should be placed on correcting inappropriate postures of the head, shoulders and thoracic spine.