Affiliations: Study Programme Health Management and Health
Promotion, University of Applied Sciences Burgenland, Pinkafeld, Austria | Department of Environmental Health, Centre of Public
Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Note: [] Corrresponding author: Gerhard Blasche, Department of
Environmental Hygiene, Centre of Public Health, Medical University of Vienna,
Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1095 Vienna, Austria. Tel.: +43 1 4277 62112; Fax: +43 1
4277 62199; E-mail: gerhard.blasche@meduniwien.ac.at
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Frequent computer use is associated with an increase in
musculoskeletal complaints. The present study aims at comparing the relative
efficacy of three novel interventions for the preventions of musculoskeletal
complaints in frequent computer users. PARTICIPANTS: 93 employees (56 woman, 37 men, mean age 40.1 ±
8.8 years) with frequent computer use. METHODS: Participants were assigned on the basis of preference to
one of the following interventions of 8 week duration: Nordic Walking (NW),
biofeedback assisted relaxation and stretching (BFB), balance exercises on a
wobble board (BAL) or a waiting list control group. Outcome measures were
musculoskeletal complaints, emotional well-being, fatigue, job dissatisfaction
as well as neuromuscular activity in the neck/shoulder region at rest and
during computer work assessed before and after the intervention and at 3 months
follow-up. RESULTS: The average number of training-units per week was 2.2
± 0.8, 5.5 ± 3.5 and 4.1 ± 2.9 for NW, BFB and BAL,
respectively. NW led to short and medium term improvement of musculoskeletal
complaints, BFB to a short term improvement of musculoskeletal complaints.
Effects on the well-being related variables or on neuromuscular activity were
not found. BAL had no effect on the studied variables. CONCLUSION: NW and to a limited extent BFB
are interventions potentially useful for reducing musculoskeletal complaints in
frequent computer users.
