title: The association between postural alignment and psychosocial factors to upper quadrant pain in high school students: a prospective study.
abstract: Prolonged sitting and psychosocial factors have been associated with musculoskeletal symptoms among adolescents. However, the impact of prolonged static sitting on musculoskeletal pain among South African high school students is uncertain. A prospective observational study was performed to determine whether sitting postural alignment and psychosocial factors contribute to the development of upper quadrant musculoskeletal pain (UQMP) in grade ten high school students working on desktop computers. The sitting postural alignment, depression, anxiety and computer use of 104 asymptomatic students were measured at baseline. At three and six months post baseline, the prevalence of UQMP was determined. Twenty-seven students developed UQMP due to seated or computer-related activities. An extreme cervical angle (<34.75 degrees or >43.95 degrees; OR 2.8; 95% CI: 1.1-7.3) and a combination of extreme cervical and thoracic angles (<63.1 degrees or >71.1 degrees; OR 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1-5.6) were significant postural risk factors for the development of UQMP. Boys with any extreme angle were more likely to suffer pain compared with boys with all middle range angles (OR 4.9; 95% CI: 1.0-24.5). No similar effect was found for girls. There was no strong relationship between depression, anxiety, computer exposure and UQMP among South African high school students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, PO Box 2101, Windmeul 7630, Paarl, South Africa. yolandi@physiopaarl.co.za
authors.forename: Yolandi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Brink
authors.forename: Lynette Christine
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Crous
authors.forename: Quinette Abigail
authors.initials: QA
authors.lastname: Louw
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grimmer-Somers
authors.forename: Kristiaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schreve
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003201:Computers; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*