PREVALENCE OF UPPER CROSS SYNDROME AND ASSOCIATED POSTURAL DEVIATIONS IN COMPUTER OPERATORS; A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Background: The most prevalent disorder found in the cervical and shoulder region is Upper cross syndrome. This syndrome can cause impairments in joints and mainly targets the atlanto-occiptal joint, shoulder joint, C4-C5, and T4-T5 region.

Objectives: To find the prevalence of both; upper cross syndrome and postural deviations associated with this musculoskeletal disorder in computer operators.

Methodology: It was a qualitative cross-sectional study. Data were collected from different offices and computer labs in Lahore within five months from January 2021 to May 2021. Computer operators of both genders, with the age range of 25 to 50 years, working in either computer labs or offices for at least 2 years were included. A modified self-administered questionnaire was used as a study tool and data were analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) ver. 22.0.

Results: Participants had a mean age of 29.63 years with a standard deviation of 5.8, minimum age of 25, and maximum age of 48 years. When participants were assessed, 66.04% of computer users had upper back pain (36.27% of them with mild pain intensity) and 73.72% had neck pain (36.97% of them with mild pain intensity). Among those having pain in the neck and upper back, 40.23% had pain during movement and/or when they consistently use computers. Furthermore, 34.88% of people had increased thoracic curvature and 61.16% had forward head posture.

Conclusion: Upper cross syndrome was moderately prevalent (67.7%) in computer users whereas postural deviations were mildly present (26.28%) at the time of assessment. Among postural deviations, forward head posture and rounded shoulders were majorly affecting the computer operators.

Keywords: upper cross syndrome, postural deviations, musculoskeletal disorder, neck pain, upper back pain, forward head posture, rounded shoulders, computer users, office workers