Comments on: Your computer may be a pain in the neck

Hunched shoulders and a craned neck can lead to major discomfort for office workers.

[Captain_Spock]

These are Very "Simple" Solution!

Design computer systems that would allow people to use the computer in the most natural ways common to man - "TALK" and "LISTEN" to the "COMPUTER" while in the best ergonomic postures and audible positions!

[jonmca]

National Institutes of Health Guidelines

The National Institutes of Health has helpful guidelines on both computer ergonomics and exercises for computer users available at: http://www.nih.gov/od/ors/ds/ergonomics/exerciseeyes.html

[ajbright]

Denied by Doctors

For years Doctors have written off complaints of upper back pain as ficticious, because prior to lengthy computer use, the areas involved had the least amount of wear and tear - which means it is almost impossible to get the kind of disc erosion that causes the suffering of people with lower back problems.

Computer users, however, aren't suffering from bulging discs or similar ailments, they are suffering from arthritis, tendonitis and muscle strain from forcing your body to hold bad posture for hours at a time, and generally using muscles in ways they just aren't normally used for.

Sufferers generally start out with minimal symptoms, maybe getting a mild pain behind their shoulder blades if they sit up straight or lay on their backs. This progresses over the years to sever pain, if say you took a deep breath (thus moving your rear rib cage which is now arthritis ridden, or moving sore tendons and strained muscles).

The answer is there isn't one, even if you abide by acceptable ergonomics rules - because this is new, and no one can honestly say whether say it's continually over-reaching for your mouse, or sitting with a hunched over back or slouching or just the fact your over-using parts of the back that just weren't designed for excessive use.

The best ergonomic procedures will help prevent or progress injuries. There are recommended stretching exercises and upper back strengthening exercises that will reduce the number of pinched neck nerves, frozen shoulders, you know that excrutiating pain that starts in your neck, making it almost impossible to turn your head, then moves on to include your shoulder, shoulder blade and maybe in the worst cases your middle back. That's because the same tendons that are hurt in your neck, extend down to your lower back.

But as for a cure. Nope, and now that Viox and Celebrex have been removed from the market, even the mild relief they give is no longer available.

[filmamerica]

A Logical Solution

All of the problems described are inherent with thr poor posture brought about by sitting for prolonged periods. As long as one sits at his computer screen, no amount of fancy mechanicals will be of avail. It is surprising to see so many "learned" physicians missing this point entirely. As human beings we were never designed to sit - remember, our species is called **** erectus. What's the first effort a baby attempts? It tries to stand! And we applaud him for it! So, as adults, why have we forgotten this most human of physical traits? Even the Romans recognized this - they didn't sit for dinner. They reclined! I have been working at a computer for seventeen years, and have never suffered any of the problems described in this piece. Yes... you get it. I stand! By the way... I'm 70.