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Aching Shoulder, Neck Pain? It Could be Courtesy Laptop

DUBAI - At least 63 per cent of laptop users suffer from severe pain and discomfort while travelling on business, according to a recent survey.

‘Laptop shoulder’ is a new condition that has been identified after a research carried out by Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts revealed how the users suffer from pain and discomfort.

Almost two thirds of business travellers are putting their long-term health at risk, according to UK-based physiotherapist Diane Hunter, who has teamed up with Crowne Plaza to provide a guide to help laptop users overcome the condition.

“The symptoms include an aching shoulder, sometimes accompanied with neck and upper back pain. My colleagues and I refer to this condition as ‘laptop shoulder’. This can be a chronic and debilitating condition if left untreated,” said Hunter.

The survey was carried out among 1,629 users in September this year.

“Treatment involves taking steps to improve posture and a simple exercise programme,” she added.

Air travel, driving and bad posture add to the pain and discomfort in the upper back and neck caused by transporting heavy laptop computers for business travellers. This tends to result in referred pain into the shoulders.

As business becomes more mobile, the findings show that nearly two thirds of laptop users are suffering increased pain and discomfort in their shoulders, back or neck when travelling with laptops.

Crowne Plaza commissioned the research after hotel staff noticed a large number of business guests were suffering from pain in their back, neck and shoulders.

The findings also reveal that three quarters of laptop users carry their laptop in the wrong type of bag, exacerbating the symptoms.

One in two laptop users are oblivious to the ways that ‘laptop shoulder’ and other repetitive strain injuries can be avoided, and don’t know they can relieve postural pain with straightforward exercises that can be carried out in hotel rooms.”

Hunter is providing an exercise guide that is designed for use in hotels.

Physiotherapy exercises help

when you arrive in your hotel room, take 10 minutes to lie on your back on the bed, allow your arms to relax by your sides and take a few deep breaths.


Sitting upright in the chair, stretch your arms above your head, lean back in the chair so you can stretch your upper back and take three deep breaths without allowing your head to tilt forwards or backwards.


Rotating your upper body in the chair, grab onto the chair and stretch round as far as you can. Do this five times to your left and five times to your right.


Sit upright in the chair and look straight ahead. Gently tuck in your chin and pull your head back for five seconds. Repeat this five times.


Sitting upright in your chair, shrug both shoulders up and back and drop to achieve a backwards rolling motion. Do this five times. Look down at the front of your right shoulder until you feel a mild stretch in your left upper neck. Slowly, repeat this to the left.

-asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com