Sitting Working Position and Neck Pain

Office work and the associated prolonged sitting in the workplace are associated by many with neck pain. The height of the chair, the ergonomic shape of the chair, the height of the desk, the position behind the computer and other reasons are mostly just excuses for our neck pain. The problem lies in the individual. Sample included 30 persons of both sexes, aged between 20 and 60 years (M = 44.43; SD = 10.40), participated. We research the effect of two-month neck muscle exercise on reducing neck pain and increasing the range of motion of the cervical spine in people with a sedentary workplace. Before and after the exercise, the participants filled in a questionnaire and we measured cervical spine mobility. The responsibility of the individual to perform the exercise was one of the factors in the occurrence of pain.

The research showed statistically significant improvements in the mobility of the cervical spine (p = 0.00 at p ≤ 0.05), reduced the intensity of neck pain during sedentary work and changed work habits for the better. We found strong correlations between the improvement of cervical spine mobility and the implementation of the exercise program (mean r = 0.748 at p <0.01). Two months of exercise improved the average mobility of the cervical spine the most in the movement of rotation to the left. Individuals who accept responsibility for the resulting neck pain make higher progress than those who attribute the blame for neck pain to a sedentary workplace.