Frequency of Work-Related Neck Pain in Freelancers

Work-Related Neck Pain

Authors

  • Tamjeed Ghaffar Faculty of Medical Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
  • Tyyiba Fatima Department of Physical Therapy, Government college University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
  • Hanan Azfar Department of Orthopedics, Bhatti Hospital, Gujranwala, Pakistan
  • Mehwish Shouket Department of Physical Therapy, Government college University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
  • . Jahanara Department of Physical Therapy, Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering Information and Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan
  • Hina Javed Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Bashir Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Usama Bin Siddique Department of Physical Therapy, Government college University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
  • Amna Khalid Faculty of Medical Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/tt.v4i1.116

Keywords:

Neck pain, freelancing, work-related neck pain

Abstract

The use of electronic devices like tablets, smartphones, desktop and laptop users has been increased to a lot of extent from past few years. So, the workers are more prone to be affected by neck pain, shoulder pain and other forms of musculoskeletal problems, due to lack of awareness about bad posture and ergonomics about workstation in their environment. Objectives: To find out the frequency of work-related neck pain in freelancers. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study containing of questionnaire based online survey in which the data were collected by asking the participants to fill the form online. There were 100 participants who were actively working in this field from last 6 months and all of them were having neck related problems. The data was analyzed using statistical packages of social sciences and different tests were performed including Chi-square and standard deviation and square tab. Results: Statistics show that 27% of freelancers were suffered from neck and shoulder pain, 43% suffered from neck pain along with other symptoms and followed by headache in which 34% rarely suffered from headache, 38% suffered from moderate headache and 28% from severe headache. Emotional findings show that 44% faced frustration, anger and sadness to some extent. Conclusions: The neck discomfort due to working online increases with sitting still for more than 1 hour, making physical activity difficult as well as making lifestyle change. A significant Association was found between lifestyle changes due to neck pain, neck pain intensity with online working.

References

Garin A, Jackson E, Koustas DK, McPherson C. Is New Platform Work Different from Other Freelancing? InAEA Papers and Proceedings 2020 May; 110: 157-61. doi: 10.1257/pandp.20201039.

Rawoof HA, Ahmed KA, Saeed N. The role of online freelancing: Increasing women empowerment in Pakistan. International Journal of Disaster Recovery Bus. Continuity. 2021; 12: 1179-88.

Dunn M, Stephany F, Sawyer S, Munoz I, Raheja R, Vaccaro G, et al. When motivation becomes desperation: Online freelancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. 2020. Available at:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fabian-Stephany/publication/342395051_When_Motivation_Becomes_Desperation_Online_Freelancing_During_the_COVID-19_Pandemic/links/5ffef8a892851c13fe0c4437/When-Motivation-Becomes-Desperation-Online-Freelancing-During-the-COVID-19-Pandemic.pdf.

Alpar P and Osterbrink L. Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic for IT Work. Information Systems Management. 2020 Oct; 37(4): 339-42. doi:10.1080/10580530.2020.1820638.

Clarke S and T Robertson I. A meta‐analytic review of the Big Five personality factors and accident involvement in occupational and non‐occupational settings. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. 2005 Sep; 78(3): 355-76. doi:10.1348/096317905X26183.

Malińska M and Bugajska J. The influence of occupational and non-occupational factors on the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in users of portable computers. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics. 2010 Jan; 16(3): 337-43. doi:10.1080/10803548.2010.11076850.

Sharan D, Parijat P, Sasidharan AP, Ranganathan R, Mohandoss M, Jose J. Workstyle risk factors for work related musculoskeletal symptoms among computer professionals in India. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. 2011 Dec; 21(4): 520-5. doi: 10.1007/s10926-011-9294-4.

Carragee EJ, Scott Haldeman DC, Guzman J, Peloso PM. The burden and determinants of neck pain in workers. Spine. 2008; 33(4S): S60-74. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181643ee4

Nejati P, Lotfian S, Moezy A, Nejati M. The study of correlation between forward head posture and neck pain in Iranian office workers. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health. 2015; 28(2). doi:10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00352

Cagnie B, Danneels L, Van Tiggelen D, De Loose V, Cambier D. Individual and work-related risk factors for neck pain among office workers: a cross sectional study. European Spine Journal. 2007 May; 16: 679-86. doi: 10.1007/s00586-006-0269-7

Meidert U, Neumann S, Ehrensberger-Dow M, Becker H. Physical ergonomics at translators’ workplaces: Findings from ergonomic workplace assessments and interviews. ILCEA. Revue de l’Institut des langues et cultures d'Europe, Amérique, Afrique, Asie et Australie. 2016 Nov; 7(27): 1-18. doi: 10.4000/ilcea.3996

Hoy D, Protani M, De R, Buchbinder RJ. The epidemiology of neck pain. Best practice & research Clinical Rheumatology. 2010 Dec; 24(6): 783-92. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2011.01.019

Ariëns GA, Bongers PM, Douwes M, Miedema MC, Hoogendoorn WE, van der Wal G, et al., Are neck flexion, neck rotation, and sitting at work risk factors for neck pain? Results of a prospective cohort study. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2001 Mar; 58(3): 200-7. doi: 10.1136/oem.58.3.200

Gorczyca R, Filip R, Walczak E. Psychological aspects of pain. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine. 2013; Spec no. 1: 23-7.

Driessen MT, Proper KI, van Tulder MW, Anema JR, Bongers PM, van der Beek AJ. The effectiveness of physical and organisational ergonomic interventions on low back pain and neck pain: a systematic review. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2010 April; 67(4): 277-85. doi: 10.1136/oem.2009.047548

Lindegård A, Wahlström J, Hagberg M, Vilhelmsson R, Toomingas A, Wigaeus Tornqvist E. Perceived exertion, comfort and working technique in professional computer users and associations with the incidence of neck and upper extremity symptoms. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2012 Dec; 13(1): 1-8. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-13-38

Taneja A. Effects of work-from-home use laptop or mobile phone causing text neck syndrome during the quarantine period COVID-19. International Journal of Science Development and Research. 2021; 6(2): 54-7.

Keown GA and Tuchin PA. Workplace factors associated with neck pain experienced by computer users: a systematic review. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2018 Jul; 41(6): 508-29. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2018.01.005

Namwongsa S, Puntumetakul R, Neubert MS, Boucaut R. Factors associated with neck disorders among university student smartphone users. Work. 2018 Jan; 61(3): 367-78. doi:10.3233/WOR-182819

Shan Z, Deng G, Li J, Li Y, Zhang Y, Zhao Q. Correlational analysis of neck/shoulder pain and low back pain with the use of digital products, physical activity and psychological status among adolescents in Shanghai. Plos One. 2013 Oct; 8(10): e78109. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078109

Sikka I, Chawla C, Seth S, Alghadir AH, Khan M. Effects of deep cervical flexor training on forward head posture, neck pain, and functional status in adolescents using computer regularly. BioMed Research International. 2020 Oct; 2020. doi:10.1155/2020/8327565

van der Zwan P, Hessels J, Burger M. Happy free willies? Investigating the relationship between freelancing and subjective well-being. Small Business Economics. 2020 Aug; 55: 475-91. doi: 10.1007/s11187-019-00246-6

Stock SR and Tissot F. Are there health effects of harassment in the workplace? A gender-sensitive study of the relationships between work and neck pain. Ergonomics. 2012 Feb; 55(2): 147-59. doi: 10.1080/00140139.2011.598243

Downloads

Published

2023-03-31
CITATION
DOI: 10.54393/tt.v4i1.116
Published: 2023-03-31

How to Cite

Ghaffar, T. ., Fatima, T. ., Azfar, H. ., Shouket, M. ., Jahanara, ., Javed, H. ., Bin Siddique, U. ., & Khalid, A. (2023). Frequency of Work-Related Neck Pain in Freelancers: Work-Related Neck Pain. THE THERAPIST (Journal of Therapies &Amp; Rehabilitation Sciences), 4(1), 62–65. https://doi.org/10.54393/tt.v4i1.116

Issue

Section

Original Article

Plaudit

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 1 2