Abstract Background: Bank workers are subjected to work on computers, deal with customers for on average 8 hours a day with minimum rest period. Most of the time work is performed in awkward postures. Neck pain was found to be most prevalent problem amongst bank workers. Reasons contributing to causes of neck pain can be attributed to awkward posture, sedentary work, maintaining static activity for typing data, handling mouse etc. Decreased activity of deep cervical flexors and increased activity of superficial cervical flexors was found to be the pathophysiology for the neck pain.
Methodology: This experimental study consists of 55 subjects with the age 19 to 50 years were selected as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. Group ‘A’ received deep cervical flexor activation along with ergonomic education. Group ‘B’ received ergonomic education only. In group A stretching to neck muscles, deep cervical flexor training using pressure biofeedback and ergonomic education was given. Group B received ergonomic education. Participants received intervention for 3 weeks, 5 days in a week. Outcome measure was NPRS, NDI and Cervical ROM measured before and after intervention. RULA was used to evaluate ergonomic posture.
Results: The participants in group A showed highly significant improvement in NPRS (2.72±1.24 to 0.909 ± 1.151), NDI (9.59±3.305 to 3.00±2.600) and cervical flexion (43.63±2.969 to 46.54±2.738), cervical extension (54.83±2.55 to 57.045±2.171), this was observed in comparison with group B.
Conclusion: Deep neck flexor activation is suitable to treat neck pain in bank workers reducing pain,
disability and improving range of motion.
Keywords: Bank Workers; WMSDs; NDI; CCFT; Deep Cervical Flexion Activation; Ergonomic
Education.