The Effects of Technology on your posture

BY Boonyakorn Tangtritham, Arachun Mittrapinurak, Natthara Boosamund

EDITED BY Pakpol Kunopasvorakul

The Effects of Technology on your posture

Have you ever got neck or back pain? If you are, you may try to find the cause of pain, then you should consider the effect from technology like phone or computer ect. Today, more people are having a risk of getting back and neck pain from poor posture that is used with technology, which can lead them to even worse disease.

Back pain is a frequent ailment that involves feeling uncomfortable or experiencing pain in the lower, middle, or upper back. It can be triggered by multiple factors, such as muscle strain, incorrect posture, or spinal problems like herniated discs. Contributing factors include sedentary lifestyles, improper heavy lifting, and age-related spine changes. Typically, rest, mild exercises, and over-the-counter pain relievers can help alleviate most cases of back pain. Yet, it's crucial to seek evaluation from a healthcare professional for persistent or severe back pain to identify the root cause and receive suitable treatment.

What does technology do to our posture?

Phone

Normally, when we use the phone our head leans forward. The average human head weighs around 5kg. From the study, when we lean our head forward, there is additional weight added from the increased pressure on the neck ligaments and the neck muscles to keep our head aligned.

• 15 degrees forward feels like 27 pounds (about 12kg)

• 30 degrees forward feels like 40 pounds (about 18kg)

• 45 degrees forward feels like 49 pounds (about 22kg)

• 60 degrees forward feels like 60 pounds (about 27kg)

The effect of leaning our head over may put our neck and spine to early wear, tear, degeneration, and possibly surgeries.

Computer

The sitting posture is very important. Holding your body part steady for long periods of time can cause physical fatigue (tiredness). This is a result of the reduced circulation of blood to your body which leads to stiffness and pain. Back, shoulder, arm, and neck pain are very common computer injuries. In case that the workstation (desk) is not set up properly, it can put greater stress on your muscles and joints.

Diseases come with bad posture

• Posterior Cervical Dorsal Syndrome

This is a very common poster syndrome in nowadays society. This syndrome involves excessively outward curves of your lower, middle, and upper back; lead forward head, and excessive forward upper neck.

This syndrome can cause several symptoms, including:

• Headache

• Tension throughout the upper and lower back

• Strain muscle

• Increased loading on the intervertebral discs of your spine

• Long-term injuries like joint dysfunction and impaired breathing

• Mouse shoulder

Mouse shoulder is a condition caused by using a computer without proper arm support. It is considered a Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). The symptoms that are caused by this condition are neck pain and spread over to the shoulder side. The pain of this condition is described as “burning” or deep aching.

Some other symptoms are:

• Numbness or tingling in your hand

• Weak feeling on your hand

• Headache

• Pain on the arm all the way to the hand

Treatment

Mouse shoulder

• Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Medicines that commonly use to relieve the pain such as aspirin ect.

• Acupuncture: The traditional Chinese medicine that inserts thin needles through your skin at the strategic points to help relieve the pain.

• Chiropractic Adjustment: is a procedure in which chiropractors use their hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. The goal of this procedure is to improve spinal motion and improve your body's physical function.

• Massage Techniques: Active Release Technique Active Release Therapy (ART), also called Active Release Technique, is a non-invasive manual therapy technique that works to correct soft tissue restrictions that cause pain and mobility issues. The goal is to break down scar tissue and adhesions in order to optimize function in the body.

• Physical Therapy: Physical Therapy is certain exercises, massages and treatments based on physical stimuli. The goal of physical therapy is to relieve the pain, strengthen weak muscles, and help you move better.

• Soft Tissue Manipulation: Hands-on pressure to the affected muscle tissue will help decrease shoulder pain.
  

How to prevent poor posture?

• Sit at an adjustable desk specially designed for use with computers.

• Have the computer monitor (screen) either at eye level or slightly lower.

• Do stretches, you can do it even without leaving the chair.

• Taking a break after work for 20 minutes to adjust your posture.

• Make sure your wrist is in a neutral position

• Do activities that will exercise the upper back muscles like swimming ect.

Reference

BETTER HEALTH CHANNEL. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/computer-related-injuries#posture-related-injuries-from-computer-use. Accessed 28 July 2023.

DR. VIC WEATHERALL(2023). advancechiro.on.ca/common-computer-related-injuries/. Accessed 30 July 2023.

JANE O’CONNOR & ASSOCIATES OSTEOPATHS. https://leamington-osteopaths.co.uk/mouse-shoulder/. Accessed 30 July 2023

KENNETH K. HANSRAJ, MD(2014), Assessment of stresses in the cervical spine caused by posture and position of the head, SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL XXV, Oct, 2014, p.1-3

LAURA HOLTON(2020). https://myva360.com/blog/10-common-computer-related-injuries-and-how-to-prevent-them. Accessed 30 July 2023.

LIFE MARK. https://www.lifemark.ca/services/art#:~:text=Active%20Release%20Therapy%20(ART)%2C,optimize%20function%20in%20the%20body.. Accessed 31 July 2023.

MANHATTAN SPORTS THERAPY(2020). https://www.manhattansportstherapy.com/blog/common-questions-asked-about-mouse-shoulder/. Accessed 30 July 2023.

MAYO CLINIC(2022). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/acupuncture/about/pac-20392763#:~:text=Acupuncture%20involves%20the%20insertion%20of,overall%20wellness%2C%20including%20stress%20management.. Accessed 31 July 2023.

MAYO CLINIC(2022). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chiropractic-adjustment/about/pac-20393513#:~:text=Chiropractic%20adjustment%20is%20a%20procedure,improve%20your%20body's%20physical%20function.. Accessed 31 July 2023.

MAYO CLINIC. https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/diseases-conditions/back-pain/. Accessed 31 July 2023.

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE(2020). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nsaids/#:~:text=Non%2Dsteroidal%20anti%2Dinflammatory%20drugs,headaches. Accessed 31 July 2023.

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH(2020). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK561514/#:~:text=The%20aim%20of%20physical%20therapy,to%20improve%20their%20own%20health.. Accessed 31 July 2023.

ROSS HAUSER, MD(2022). https://www.caringmedical.com/prolotherapy-news/forward-head-posture/. Accessed 31 July 2023.

ROTHMAN ORTHOPAEDIC(2019). https://rothmanortho.com/stories/blog/how-computer-and-smart-phone-use-affect-the-spine.Accessed 28 July 2023.