Activities per year
Abstract
Introduction. In recent years, the need to use a computer in daily life has been increasing rapidly, especially since the start of the COVID-19 infection pandemic in 2019. To continue studies and work, people were forced to use the internet
and, consequently, computers daily. As time spent in front of computer monitors increases, so does the incidence of musculoskeletal health problems – neck muscle pain being only one of them. Too much tension in neck muscles can
also cause head and neck pain, dizziness, and fatigue. The wrong positioning of the screen might be related to these complaints in employees and computer users.
Aim. The study aims to determine how the position of the head relative to the computer monitor affects the tension of the neck extensor muscles.
Materials and Methods. A quantitative cross-sectional study of neck extensor muscle tension was performed in healthy participants regularly working on computer (n = 19, of them 6 males and 13 females, mean age 35 years).
Measurements of the neck extensor muscle (m.semispinalis capitis and m. splenius capitis) tension, decrement, stiffness, and relaxation were obtained bilaterally by myotonometer MyotonPro 5.0.0 in the sitting position. The change
of head position occurred in the sagittal plane and was obtained by measuring the craniovertebral angle with a goniometer. Data were analysed by program IBM SPSS Statistics version 23 using Spearman’s test with p < 0.05
considered statistically significant.
Results. Results showed statistically significant differences: for m. semispinalis capitis there was a positive correlation between angle and oscillation frequency r = 0.286; p < 0.001, angle and stiffness r = 0.268; p < 0.001, but a negative
correlation between angle and relaxation r = -0.344, p < 0.001. There was no significant correlation between angle and decrement. The highest oscillation frequency value was at the angle of +30 degrees (19.79 ± 2.76 Hz), the lowest at neutral position (17.9 ± 2.66 Hz). The highest decrement was atc neutral position (1.35 ± 0.17), the lowest – at +30 degrees – (1.31 ± 0.16). For m. splenius capitis there was a positive correlation between angle and oscillation frequency (r = 0.298; p < 0.001), angle and stiffness (r = 0.271; p < 0.001), but a negative correlation between angle and relaxation (r = -0.375, p < 0.001). The highest oscillation frequency value was at the angle of +30 degrees (17.83 ± 1.94 Hz), the lowest – at neutral position (16.39 ± 1.73 Hz). The highest decrement was at the neutral position (1.21 ± 0.23), the lowest – at +30 degrees (1.15 ± 0.17).
Conclusion. The maximal neck extensor muscle tension was at +30º angle, whereas the minimal – at neutral head angle, which corresponds with neck extensor muscle physiology and biomechanics. Thus, neutral head position would
be recommended to reduce neck muscle overload while looking at the screen.
and, consequently, computers daily. As time spent in front of computer monitors increases, so does the incidence of musculoskeletal health problems – neck muscle pain being only one of them. Too much tension in neck muscles can
also cause head and neck pain, dizziness, and fatigue. The wrong positioning of the screen might be related to these complaints in employees and computer users.
Aim. The study aims to determine how the position of the head relative to the computer monitor affects the tension of the neck extensor muscles.
Materials and Methods. A quantitative cross-sectional study of neck extensor muscle tension was performed in healthy participants regularly working on computer (n = 19, of them 6 males and 13 females, mean age 35 years).
Measurements of the neck extensor muscle (m.semispinalis capitis and m. splenius capitis) tension, decrement, stiffness, and relaxation were obtained bilaterally by myotonometer MyotonPro 5.0.0 in the sitting position. The change
of head position occurred in the sagittal plane and was obtained by measuring the craniovertebral angle with a goniometer. Data were analysed by program IBM SPSS Statistics version 23 using Spearman’s test with p < 0.05
considered statistically significant.
Results. Results showed statistically significant differences: for m. semispinalis capitis there was a positive correlation between angle and oscillation frequency r = 0.286; p < 0.001, angle and stiffness r = 0.268; p < 0.001, but a negative
correlation between angle and relaxation r = -0.344, p < 0.001. There was no significant correlation between angle and decrement. The highest oscillation frequency value was at the angle of +30 degrees (19.79 ± 2.76 Hz), the lowest at neutral position (17.9 ± 2.66 Hz). The highest decrement was atc neutral position (1.35 ± 0.17), the lowest – at +30 degrees – (1.31 ± 0.16). For m. splenius capitis there was a positive correlation between angle and oscillation frequency (r = 0.298; p < 0.001), angle and stiffness (r = 0.271; p < 0.001), but a negative correlation between angle and relaxation (r = -0.375, p < 0.001). The highest oscillation frequency value was at the angle of +30 degrees (17.83 ± 1.94 Hz), the lowest – at neutral position (16.39 ± 1.73 Hz). The highest decrement was at the neutral position (1.21 ± 0.23), the lowest – at +30 degrees (1.15 ± 0.17).
Conclusion. The maximal neck extensor muscle tension was at +30º angle, whereas the minimal – at neutral head angle, which corresponds with neck extensor muscle physiology and biomechanics. Thus, neutral head position would
be recommended to reduce neck muscle overload while looking at the screen.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Daugavpils Universitātes 64. starptautiskās zinātniskās konferences rakstu krājums = Proceedings of the 64th International Scientific Conference of Daugavpils University |
| Subtitle of host publication | A. daļa “Dabaszinātnes” = Part A “Natural Sciences” |
| Editors | Irēna Kokina |
| Publisher | Daugavpils Universitāte |
| Pages | 46-53 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-9984-14-982-0 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9789984149844 |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 |
| Event | 64th International Scientific Conference of Daugavpils University - online, Daugavpils, Latvia Duration: 21 Apr 2022 → 22 Apr 2022 Conference number: 64 https://dukonference.lv/lv https://dukonference.lv/en |
Conference
| Conference | 64th International Scientific Conference of Daugavpils University |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Latvia |
| City | Daugavpils |
| Period | 21/04/22 → 22/04/22 |
| Other | Daugavpils Universitātes 64. starptautiskā zinātniskā konference |
| Internet address |
Keywords*
- muscle
- neck extensors
- tension
- computer monitor
Field of Science*
- 3.2 Clinical medicine
Publication Type*
- 3.2. Articles or chapters in other proceedings other than those included in 3.1., with an ISBN or ISSN code
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Mentor of Vertically integrated project - VIP course "Ergonomic workplaces in healthy environment"
Reste, J. (Mentor)
2019 → …Activity: Mentoring and other activity types › Mentoring