Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Thai Buri, Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand 80160.
Movement Science and Exercise Research Center, Walailak University, Thai Buri, Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand 80160.
J Occup Health. 2024 Jan 4;66(1). doi: 10.1093/joccuh/uiae023.
To compare the effects of 1-hour computer use on ulnar and median nerve conduction velocity and muscle activity in office workers with symptomatic neck pain and asymptomatic office workers.
A total of 40 participants, both male and female office workers, with symptomatic neck pain (n = 20) and asymptomatic (n = 20), were recruited. Pain intensity, ulnar nerve conduction velocity, median nerve conduction velocity, and muscle activity were determined before and after 1 hour of computer use.
There was a significant increase in pain intensity in the neck area in both groups (P < .001). The symptomatic neck pain group revealed a significant decrease in the sensory nerve conduction velocity of the ulnar nerve (P = .008), whereas there was no difference in the median nerve conduction velocity (P > .05). Comparing before and after computer use, the symptomatic neck pain group had less activity of the semispinalis muscles and higher activity of the anterior scalene muscle than the asymptomatic group (P < .05). The trapezius and wrist extensor muscles showed no significant differences in either group (P > .05).
This study found signs of neuromuscular deficit of the ulnar nerve, semispinalis muscle, and anterior scalene muscle after 1 hour of computer use among office workers with symptomatic neck pain, which may indicate the risk of neuromuscular impairment of the upper extremities. The recommendation of resting, and encouraging function and flexibility of the neuromuscular system after 1 hour of computer use should be considered.
比较 1 小时电脑使用对有症状颈痛和无症状办公人员的尺神经和正中神经传导速度和肌肉活动的影响。
共招募了 40 名有症状颈痛（n=20）和无症状（n=20）的男女办公人员。在使用电脑 1 小时前后，分别测定疼痛强度、尺神经传导速度、正中神经传导速度和肌肉活动。
两组的颈区疼痛强度均显著增加（P<0.001）。有症状颈痛组尺神经感觉神经传导速度显著降低（P=0.008），而正中神经传导速度无差异（P>0.05）。与使用电脑前后相比，有症状颈痛组半棘肌活动减少，前斜角肌活动增加，而无症状组则无差异（P<0.05）。斜方肌和腕伸肌在两组中均无显著差异（P>0.05）。
本研究发现，有症状颈痛办公人员在使用电脑 1 小时后出现尺神经、半棘肌和前斜角肌的神经肌肉功能缺陷迹象，这可能表明上肢神经肌肉损伤的风险增加。建议在使用电脑 1 小时后休息，并鼓励神经肌肉系统的功能和灵活性。
