Work from Home ‘pros or cons’ : Spiking Sick Scapula Syndrome

Data suggests that people are happy to work from home amidst the Covid 19 pandemic. While health care professionals are seeing rising cases of new or worsening neck, back and shoulder pain among young working adults. 

“The prevalence  of Sick scapula syndrome, especially among IT professionals, reception and desk workers has surprisingly increased due to Work from Home (WFH) culture.”

Normally, sportsperson have higher incidence of scapular dyskinesis of around 64 percent as compared with non-athletes. 

However, work from home culture (WFH) with poor sitting posture or prolonged sitting without break, prolonged movement of muscles may strain the scapula and can led to dyskinesia among young working people.

What is Sick Scapula Syndrome? 

Sick scapula syndrome, also known as Scapular Dyskinesis, is the abnormal flexibility or deviation of the scapula (shoulder bone) during shoulder movement.

The shoulder joint which is a ball-and-socket joint, is made up of the humerus (upper arm bone), scapula (shoulder bone), and clavicle (collarbone). The humerus highest tip shapes the ball that fits inside the glenoid of the scapula.

SYMPTOMS

• Pain and  tenderness around scapula (difficulty in carrying heavy objects with the arm at the side.)

• Snapping or popping sensation around the scapula with shoulder movement.

• Loss of strength with shoulder and arm 

• Asymmetrical posture (affected side usually sits lower)

• Instability of the shoulder (feels like it moves out of place)

 MANAGEMENT 

 Behavioural Modification 

• Strengthening and Stretching excercises daily 

• Warm up and Cool down processes before and after exercises

• Maintaining the right posture 

• Standing and sitting properly during everyday activities

• Getting up from the seat and walking while taking phone calls 

• Taking breaks from seats in between work .Prefer chairs that delivers both support and comfort 

• Avoid a range of motion when lifting

 Seek medical attention  if,

• Pain, tenderness, or swelling worsens
• Experience numbness or coldness in the arm.
• Blue, gray, or dusky color appears in the fingernails.
• New, unexplained symptoms develop.