Chronic conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive motion injuries are becoming more common as people spend more and more time sitting in front of a computer at work. This is because when people are sitting in one position for a long time, the muscles and tendons in their neck, shoulders, and back get tight and can put a lot of stress on the nerves and spinal cord. This stress can cause pain and numbness, and if it is severe enough, it might even lead to permanent damage.

Work-related pain can be eased with chiropractic care. A new case study showed that a combined treatment of chiropractic and applied ergonomics led to a 65% improvement in symptoms.

In this study, a patient who worked at desk job suffered from pain and decreased function in his wrists. Additionally, he experienced moderate to severe headache; dizziness; discomfort in the neck, shoulder, and upper back; pain in his lower back because of his sedentary work and an old sports injury.

An ergonomist made modifications to the patient’s work station like switching his chair to provide additional support and adjusting his screen to decrease his eye-to-monitor distance. The ergonomist also encouraged him to adopt healthy work behaviors like sitting in an up-right, neutral position and taking small microbreaks for stretching his wrists.

The patient also received regular chiropractic treatment throughout the study. A chiropractor treated the patient with spinal adjustments of the neck and back in addition to correctional manipulation of the shoulders and wrists. The man reported that his pain decreased immediately or within the first 24-48 hours after each chiropractic session.

The patient's chief concerns had significantly improved within three months of treatment. His headache frequency and severity dropped, and the pain he experienced in his neck and SI joint decreased. These improvements continued throughout the study. After two years of treatment, the patient had better range of motion, zero disability, improved grip strength, and a 50% reduction in pain.

The study shows that chiropractic can relieve symptoms of work-related pain like carpal tunnel syndrome, headache, neck and back pain. It's important to address those symptoms early on, before they turn into more chronic conditions. A chiropractor can use a combination of chiropractic techniques, posture correction, and ergonomic evaluation to relieve and prevent work-related pain.

Reference

Sherrod CW, et al. The modulation of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders for a knowledge worker with chiropractic care and applied ergonomics: a case study. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2013; 12 (1): 45-54.