Neck postures in air traffic controllers with and without neck/shoulder disorders.
Prolonged computer work with an extended neck is commonly believed to be associated with an increased risk of neck-shoulder disorders. The aim of this study was to compare neck postures during computer work between female cases with neck-shoulder disorders, and healthy referents. Based on physical examinations, 13 cases and 11 referents were selected among 70 female air traffic controllers with the same computer-based work tasks and identical workstations. Postures and movements were measured by inclinometers, placed on the forehead and upper back (C7/Th1) during authentic air traffic control. A recently developed method was applied to assess flexion/extension in the neck, calculated as the difference between head and upper back flexion/extension.


RESULTS
cases and referents did not differ significantly in neck posture (median neck flexion/extension: -10 degrees vs. -9 degrees ; p=0.9). Hence, the belief that neck extension posture is associated with neck-shoulder disorders in computer work is not supported by the present data.
Arvidsson
Inger
I
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, SE-221 85, Lund, Sweden. inger.arvidsson@med.lu.se
Hansson
Gert-Ake
GA
Mathiassen
Svend Erik
SE
Skerfving
Staffan
S
D000328:Adult; D001359:Aviation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011187:Posture; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014584:User-Computer Interface