Injuries from working on computers – can that be real?
Some people think that injuries only happen if you’re doing physically demanding work. However, lots of people who work in the computer / IT field suffer injuries, it’s just that they don’t know it!
Have you ever felt back pain or muscle spasm – may be one that lasted like 6 weeks without being able to turn your head, lift heavy things? Some people think that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is yet another injury cause by compressing a nerve as a result of using keyboards.
The most common is the back / shoulder / neck pains and it happens frequently to people who spend a lot of time in front of computers & screens. I had a back pain recently, that reduced my activity a lot for the past eight weeks. It was horrible, once I come back from work, I’m almost grounded. That was the fourth time I get this pain, and the second time being so bad to make me go to the doctor & last around 6-8 weeks.
My doctor referred me to a physical therapist, who gave me a good reason for this happening after some tests. As he explained, I suffer from neck muscle atrophy – more on the left side, which is simply weakening in the muscles of the neck due to not using those muscles. As a result, my other muscles had to exert more effort to carry the neck, and the result is pain in the other muscles. I noticed that when I sit and read, I actually lean my head on my hand, so the head is being carried a significant amount of time.
I was advised to do some exercises that should help build the neck muscles and stretch the back muscles that have pain. I also noticed lots of other people doing exercieses while sitting – so I wasn’t alone in this computer related back pain world. Best way to avoid it, stop sitting funny & exercise a couple of time a week & I hope no one else gets it.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I know this is an older post, but I wanted to comment anyway as it is a sore (literally) subject for me.
Lots of folks have back and neck problems these days from working in front of a computer. It is especially bad if you already have problems and bring those problems with you to the job.
I’ve been using a computer professionally (first as a CAD draftsman, then a programmer, then a software documentation and technical writer, and back to programming and internet marketing now) and battling this problem for about 28 years (having brought injuries from playing football as a kid with me). There are a whole lot of techniques, therapies and ways to cope, and I would suggest — just judging from my personal experience — that exercising a couple of times a week is not nearly enough. Just my two cents worth.