Have you ever felt neck pain after sitting at work all day, or woken every morning with an ache in the upper back and shoulders that never goes? If you are nodding now, you are one of the hundreds of thousands of workers facing office syndrome, the group of work-related pain conditions that greatly affects quality of life.
Today we will introduce you to the real root of this pain, and the treatment with modern medical technology that will help you return to living and working at full capacity again.
What is office syndrome, and why do office workers hurt so often?
Office syndrome is a condition arising from working in the same way repeatedly and holding an incorrect posture for long periods, producing pain and disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
The main causes of office syndrome
1. Sitting at work for too long
When you sit working for more than 2-3 hours without getting up to move, the muscles of the neck, upper back, and shoulders tighten, blood flow becomes poor, and inflammatory substances build up in the tissue. Muscle that stays tight for a long time forms "muscle knots," or trigger points, which are the cause of chronic pain.
2. Incorrect sitting posture
Many people lean forward to look at the computer screen, raise the shoulder when using a mouse, or bend the head down to look at a phone. These postures compress the nerve, so that signalling between the brain and the muscle becomes abnormal, and muscle imbalance develops in the body.
3. Using the muscles repeatedly
Typing, using a mouse, or holding a phone for long periods makes some muscles and tendons work too hard while others are used too little. This imbalance leads to injury and inflammation of the tendon.
4. The hidden stress
What many people overlook is psychological stress, which acts directly on the pain. When you are stressed, the body releases the hormone cortisol, which tightens the muscle further. The longer the stress lasts, the tighter the muscle and the more severe the pain.
Symptoms to watch for and not overlook
Neck, upper back, and shoulder pain that comes with numbness
If you feel neck pain and also have numbness in the fingertips, this may be a sign that a nerve is compressed, not merely ordinary muscle tightness. Numbness in the fingers may come from a nerve in the neck being compressed by a disc or by very tight muscle, so that signalling to the hand is incomplete.
Headache and migraine related to a tight neck
Many people do not know that a frequent headache or migraine may arise from tight neck and upper back muscles. When the muscles at the back of the head and the base of the skull are tight, they compress the nerve that signals to the head, producing a headache that is hard to treat (tension headache).
Trigger finger from repeated use of the hand
People who work at a computer, use a mouse frequently, or use a smartphone for long periods may develop trigger finger. It arises when the tendon in the finger becomes inflamed and swollen, so that the finger catches when bending or straightening and the other hand has to pull it straight.
A real case: a pharmacist who almost lost his confidence
A young pharmacist had chronic back pain for as long as 6 years, since university, where he had to sit reading and working at a computer in a hunched posture for long periods.
A severe effect on life
The pain did not only mean the feeling of hurting. It also gave him poor bearing — walking hunched, shoulders rounded — which left him without confidence in himself, unwilling to put himself forward, and greatly affected his daily life and work.
A precise diagnosis
When he came to see the doctor at PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic, a detailed assessment found:
- Severe office syndrome, or myofascial pain syndrome
- Trigger points at several sites in the neck, upper back, shoulders, and back
- Muscle imbalance affecting the posture of standing and walking
A treatment plan using modern medical technology
The doctor designed an individual treatment plan, using modern and highly effective medical technology.
1. Dry Needling: Western-style needling
Dry needling is a technique in which the doctor inserts a fine needle directly into a tender point or muscle knot (trigger point), differing from Chinese acupuncture, which follows meridian lines.
When the needle reaches the muscle knot, a local twitch response occurs, which is a sign that the muscle is releasing. Blood flow in that area improves, inflammatory substances are carried away, and the body begins its natural process of repairing itself.
The effectiveness of dry needling:
- Releases tender points and muscle knots precisely
- Reduces pain from the very first session
- Stimulates blood flow and tissue repair
- Shows a result within 3-7 days
2. High Power Laser Therapy: high-power laser
High Power Laser Therapy uses high-intensity laser light energy penetrating as deep as 5-6 centimetres into the tissue, without damaging the skin.
The photon energy from the laser is absorbed by the cells, stimulating the production of ATP (the substance that gives the cell energy), helping cells repair themselves faster, reducing inflammation, increasing blood flow, and effectively relieving pain.
The advantages of high power laser:
- Painless; the patient feels only a comfortable warmth
- Takes only 5-10 minutes per area
- Shows a result immediately after treatment
- Safe, with no side effects
- Reaches deep to the root of the problem
3. Posture correction
Besides treatment with technology, the doctor also gives advice on correcting the posture of sitting, standing, and walking, in order to address the problem at its root and prevent the symptoms from returning.
The doctor teaches techniques for correcting posture, stretching the muscles, and specific exercises to build the strength of weakened muscle.
A result that changed a life
After treatment according to the plan, the results were remarkable:
- From the very first session: the pain was clearly lighter, with a feeling that the muscle had relaxed and movement was freer
- Within 1 month: pain down by more than 70%, with clearly better bearing — walking with a straight back and open shoulders, and much more confidence
- Within 2 months: free of the chronic pain endured for 6 years, with bearing completely changed and confidence high enough to enter the Miss Grand pageant, where he was placed 2nd runner-up
Other supporting technologies at PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic
Focused Shockwave Therapy: focused shockwaves
Therapy with focused shockwaves delivers high-energy sound waves precisely into the problem tissue. Here in particular, 3D Dynamic Focusing technology is used, which can adjust the focus dynamically according to the depth of the muscle.
Suitable for:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Chronic tendon inflammation
- Calcium deposits on a tendon
- Trigger finger
Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation (PMS)
PMS uses electromagnetic waves to stimulate muscle and nerve at depth, without touching the skin, painlessly and without side effects.
Suitable for:
- Chronic muscle pain (myofascial pain syndrome)
- Numbness from peripheral neuritis
- Chronic low-back pain
- Fibromyalgia
Diagnostic Ultrasound: examination with high-frequency sound waves
Before treatment, the doctor uses high-frequency sound waves to examine the structure of muscle, tendon, and nerve in real time, which makes the diagnosis precise and allows the treatment to be planned exactly.
Who should see a doctor?
You should consult a rehabilitation medicine physician if:
- You are an office worker sitting at a computer for more than 6 hours a day
- You are a freelancer working at home with an unsuitable sitting posture
- You are a frequent smartphone user with text neck
- You are an athlete with repeated injury in the same place
- You have had pain for more than 3 months, or it returns frequently
- The pain is steadily worsening even with rest
- You have numbness, burning, or pain radiating down the arm or leg
- The pain keeps you from sleeping or wakes you in the night
- You have tried treating it yourself without improvement
Why choose PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic?
Care by a specialist physician at every step
At PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic, examination, diagnosis, and treatment — every step is carried out by a rehabilitation medicine physician, a specialist in the musculoskeletal system directly, not only a physiotherapist or an assistant.
The physician can:
- Assess your overall condition and diagnose the true cause
- Adjust the treatment plan flexibly as appropriate
- Prescribe medication alongside the treatment if necessary
- Advise on every dimension of the problem
Whole-person care
We do not treat the pain alone, but look for the true cause, including the related factors such as posture, foot shape, and lifestyle, in order to prevent the symptoms from returning.
Do not wait for pain to destroy your quality of life and your confidence. Correct and timely treatment will help you return to living at full capacity again.
PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic
Management of pain and musculoskeletal disorders, by specialist physicians
Location:
999 Room BF-11, Floor L, Gaysorn Village
Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
(near BTS Chit Lom)
Free valet parking
Opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 16:30-20:00
- Saturday-Sunday: 10:00-20:00
PYONG Rehabilitation Penthouse Clinic
Care for older adults and neurological rehabilitation, by a team of specialist doctors and allied health professionals
Location:
127 Room K, Floor 11, Gaysorn Tower
Ratchadamri Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Opening hours:
- Monday-Friday: 10:00-20:00
- Saturday-Sunday: 10:00-20:00