To Avoid Muscle Pain While Performing Computer Work, Move Once In Awhile

A Canadian kinesiologist says there are effective ways to prevent the muscular and skeletal pain felt by 10 percent of office workers who overuse certain muscles. In a recent experiment, Julie Côté’s research team had participants perform a 90-minute typing task – either walking on a treadmill or sitting – while muscle activity was measured in their necks, shoulders, forearms, wrists, and lower backs. They found that there was lower, but more variable, neck and shoulder activity – and thus less discomfort – when participants walked. She concluded that treadmill workstations could help reduce muscle pain associated with computer work. But the basic advice is fairly simple: to avoid pain and discomfort, office workers should make minor movements and adjustments of position every few minutes.