In 2011, a study led by Chao Ma, Grace P Szeto, and colleagues has unveiled promising results in the treatment of work-related neck and shoulder pain, particularly among individuals with prolonged computer use. The randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy of biofeedback, active exercise, and passive treatment against a control group, revealing that biofeedback significantly outperforms the other methods.

The trial included 60 participants who had experienced consistent neck and shoulder pain for more than three months in the past year, all related to computer use. These participants, recruited from outpatient physiotherapy clinics and a local hospital, were randomly assigned to one of four groups: biofeedback, active exercise, passive treatment, or control.

Over six weeks, the biofeedback group used a biofeedback machine targeting the bilateral upper trapezius (UT) muscles during daily computer work. The exercise group followed a standardized exercise regimen independently, while the passive treatment group received interferential therapy and hot packs on their necks and shoulders. The control group received an educational booklet on office ergonomics.

Researchers assessed pain levels using the visual analog scale, the neck disability index (NDI), and surface electromyography to measure muscle activity, both before and after the intervention. Pain and NDI were also evaluated six months post-intervention.

The study’s findings were striking. Post-intervention, the biofeedback group experienced significantly greater reductions in both pain and NDI scores compared to the other groups, with these benefits persisting at the six-month follow-up. Additionally, the biofeedback group exhibited significant reductions in cervical erector spinae muscle activity, alongside consistent trends of decreased UT muscle activity.

This trial demonstrates that a six-week biofeedback training regimen is notably more effective in alleviating pain and enhancing muscle function for patients suffering from work-related neck and shoulder pain. These results suggest that biofeedback could be a valuable tool in the physiotherapeutic arsenal, offering sustained relief and functional improvement for individuals in computer-intensive occupations.

Reference: Ma, C., Szeto, G. P., Yan, T., Wu, S., Lin, C., & Li, L. (2011). Comparing biofeedback with active exercise and passive treatment for the management of work-related neck and shoulder pain: a randomized controlled trial. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 92(6), 849-858.