MONDAY, Nov. 30, 2009 (HealthDay News) -- Strength exercises can reduce neck and shoulder pain caused by office work, a new study claims.
It included 42 Danish female office workers who performed repetitive tasks and computer work. All of them suffered chronic or frequent pain in the neck area, and tightness and tenderness of the upper trapezius muscle, the large muscle that extends from the back of the head, down the neck and into the upper back.
The women were randomly divided into three groups:
After 10 weeks, the women in the strength exercise group had a more than 50 percent reduction in neck and shoulder pain. They also had improved function in the trapezius muscle, which showed improved ability to respond quickly and forcefully.
The study is published in the current issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology.
More information
The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation offers tips for preventing neck pain.