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Journals / Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine / 2026 / Volume: 9 Issue: 1

Alterations in cervical muscles' transverse relaxation times after a computer typing task: a quasi-experimental, magnetic resonance imaging study

Bilgisayarda yazı yazma görevi sonrasında servikal kasların T2 relaksasyon süresi değişimleri : yarı deneysel, manyetik rezonans görüntüleme çalışması

Erdi Kayabınar(YALOVA ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ, FİZYOTERAPİ VE REHABİLİTASYON BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0002-5720-9425
Nezire Köse(HACETTEPE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, FİZİK TEDAVİ VE REHABİLİTASYON FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0001-8342-7293
Ceyhun Türkmen(CANKIRI KARATEKIN UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF ERGOTHERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PR.)0000-0002-3125-4113
Şafak Parlak Sağol(HACETTEPE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, RADYOLOJİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0002-6028-4653
Ekim Gümeler(HACETTEPE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, RADYOLOJİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0003-3783-2372
Hatice Kader Karlı Oğuz(HACETTEPE ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ, DAHİLİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ, RADYOLOJİ ANABİLİM DALI)0000-0002-6404-4403
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-01-05
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Understanding these early muscle responses in asymptomatic individuals may help inform preventive strategies, including ergonomic adjustments and exercise-based approaches aimed at reducing the risk of future musculoskeletal problems.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aims: With the advancement of modernization, the prevalence of occupations requiring extensive computer use has markedly increased.
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Key Findings & Data:The aim of the present study is to investigate the changes in transverse (T2) relaxation times of cervical muscles after a computer typing task.
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Conclusion & Impact:Understanding these early muscle responses in asymptomatic individuals may help inform preventive strategies, including ergonomic adjustments and exercise-based approaches aimed at reducing the risk of future musculoskeletal problems.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:T2 relaxation time · cervical muscles · computer use

Abstract

Aims: With the advancement of modernization, the prevalence of occupations requiring extensive computer use has markedly increased. The heightened incidence of neck pain observed among individuals engaged in such occupations is thought to be associated with altered activation mechanisms of the cervical musculature. The aim of the present study is to investigate the changes in transverse (T2) relaxation times of cervical muscles after a computer typing task. Methods: Twenty-seven asymptomatic male students (mean age: 20.41±0.74 years) participated in the study. All participants were instructed to perform a computer-based task, in which they were asked to type the text displayed on the left laptop onto the right laptop as quickly as possible for 20 minutes. MRI scans were performed before and after the task. T2 relaxation times of individual muscles, as well as the ratios between deep and superficial flexor (FT2 ratio) and extensor (ET2 ratio) muscles, were measured (FT2 ratio=T2-deep flexor muscles/T2-superficial flexor muscles and ET2 ratio=T2 deep extensor muscles/T2-superficial extensor muscles). Results: After the task, T2 relaxation times of the superficial flexor and extensor muscles increased bilaterally (p 0.05). Both the FT2 ratio and ET2 ratio decreased bilaterally (p<0.05). Conclusion: T2 relaxation times of the superficial cervical muscles tended to increase after the typing task. In individuals working in computer-based jobs, such imbalances in cervical muscles following task performance may contribute to the development of musculoskeletal disorders over time. Understanding these early muscle responses in asymptomatic individuals may help inform preventive strategies, including ergonomic adjustments and exercise-based approaches aimed at reducing the risk of future musculoskeletal problems.

Özet

AMAÇ: Modern zamanlarda çalışma hayatı yoğun bilgisayar kullanımını içermeye başlamıştır. Bu tip işlerde çalışan kişilerde boyun ağrısının sık görülmesinin servikal kasların aktivasyon mekanizmasında oluşan değişiklikler ile ilişkili olabileceği düşünülmektedir. Çalışmanın amacı bir bilgisayarda yazı yazma görevi sonrasında servikal kasların T2 relaksasyon sürelerinde oluşan değişiklikleri incelemektedir. GEREÇ VE YÖNTEM: Yirmi yedi, asemptomatik, erkek üniversite öğrencisi (ortalama yaş: 20,41±0,74 yaş) çalışmaya katıldı. Tüm katılımcılardan bir bilgisayarda yazı yazma görevini gerçekleştirmesi istendi. MR görüntülemeler görev öncesi ve görev sonrası alındı. Her bir kasın T2 relaksasyon süresi ve fleksör (FT2 oran) ve ekstansör (ET2 oran) derin ve yüzeyel kasların oranları ölçüldü (FT2 oran=T2-derin fleksör kaslar/T2-yüzeyel fleksör kaslar and ET2 oran=T2 derin ekstansör kaslar/T2-yüzeyel eksransör kaslar). SONUÇLAR: Görev sonrasında yüzeyel fleksör ve ekstansör kasların T2 relaksasyon süreleri bilateral olarak artış gösterdi (p 0,05). Her iki taraf FT2 oranları ve ET2 oranları anlamlı olarak azaldı (p<0,05). TARTIŞMA: Yüzeyel kasların T2 relaksasyon süreleri yazı yazma görevi sonrasında artma eğilimindedir. Bilgisayar kullanımı ağırlıklı işlerde çalışan bireylerde yaptıkları görevler sonrasında oluşabilecek servikal kaslardaki dengesizlikler kas iskelet sistemi etkilenimlerine neden olabilir. Bu nedenle servikal kaslarda meydana gelen bu değişimleri bilmek bu alanda çalışan profesyonellerin etkilenmiş kasları hedefleyen, egzersiz ve ergoterapik müdahaleleri içeren uygun tedavi programlarını oluşturmalarına yardımcı olacaktır.

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Cite This Article

Kayabınar, E., Köse, N., Türkmen, C., Sağol, Ş. P., Gümeler, E., Oğuz, H. K. K. (2026). Alterations in cervical muscles' transverse relaxation times after a computer typing task: a quasi-experimental, magnetic resonance imaging study. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, Volume: 9 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1811752

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