Isometric muscle activation of the serratus anterior and trapezius muscles varies by arm position: a pilot study with healthy volunteers with implications for rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE: In addition to known risk factors for musculoskeletal complaints in the general population, playing a musical instrument is an additional risk factor. In this pilot study, the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints in student amateur musicians and their relation with playing posture and playing time were evaluated. METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based survey among amateur musicians studying at a Dutch university. RESULTS: 162 amateur musicians were included in this pilot study (response rate 17.6%). 46.9% of these amateur musicians played with an elevated arm position. Presence of complaints of the arm, neck and/or shoulder (CANS) was not statistically significantly related to arm position, except for complaints in the left shoulder with an elevated left arm position compared to neutral left arm position (OR 6.7, CI 95% 2.2–20.8) The number of hours playing per week did not significantly contribute to CANS (OR 1.0, CI 95% 0.95–1.17). CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study among student amateur musicians, the occurrence of CANS was not significantly related to arm position, except for musicians playing with an elevated left arm position, which was associated with complaints of the left shoulder (OR 6.7). The number of hours playing per week did not significantly contribute to CANS in this group of musicians.

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Exhaled Breath Condensate: Pilot Study of the Method and Initial Experience in Healthy Subjects

Acta Medica (Hradec Kralove Czech Republic) ◽

10.14712/18059694.2018.17 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 8-16

Author(s):

Eva Peterová ◽

Jaroslav Chládek ◽

Darina Kohoutová ◽

Veronika Knoblochová ◽

Paula Morávková ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Healthy Volunteers ◽

Coefficient Of Variation ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Lung Diseases ◽

Exhaled Breath Condensate ◽

Exhaled Breath ◽

Initial Experience ◽

Major Disadvantage ◽

Breath Condensate

Analysis of Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a re-discovered approach to monitoring the course of the disease and reduce invasive methods of patient investigation. However, the major disadvantage and shortcoming of the EBC is lack of reliable and reproducible standardization of the method. Despite many articles published on EBC, until now there is no clear consensus on whether the analysis of EBC can provide a clue to diagnosis of the diseases. The purpose of this paper is to investigate our own method, to search for possible standardization and to obtain our own initial experience. Thirty healthy volunteers provided the EBC, in which we monitored the density, pH, protein, chloride and urea concentration. Our results show that EBC pH is influenced by smoking, and urea concentrations are affected by the gender of subjects. Age of subjects does not play a role. The smallest coefficient of variation between individual volunteers is for density determination. Current limitations of EBC measurements are the low concentration of many biomarkers. Standardization needs to be specific for each individual biomarker, with focusing on optimal condensate collection. EBC analysis has a potential become diagnostic test, not only for lung diseases.

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The Effects of Taping on Muscle Activity and Throwing Velocity in Fatigued Baseball Players

International Journal of Extreme Automation and Connectivity in Healthcare ◽

10.4018/ijeach.2021010102 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 18-29

Author(s):

Kara-Lyn R. Harrison ◽

Paolo Sanzo ◽

Carlos Zerpa ◽

Taryn Klarner

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Muscle Activity ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Performance Enhancement ◽

Maximum Velocity ◽

Baseball Players ◽

Kinesio Tape ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Post Test ◽

And Performance

Due to the repetitive high forces and torques placed on an individual during a baseball pitch, shoulder pain is present in 46-57% of pitchers. Therapeutic taping has been proposed to have beneficial qualities in injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement via muscular facilitation. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of taping on the velocity of an overhead baseball throw and muscle activation patterning of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and pectoralis major muscles in baseball players after muscle fatigue was induced. Participants were asked to complete three pre-test maximum velocity overhead throws, a fatiguing protocol, followed by three post-test maximum velocity pitches. There was no statistically significant difference in throwing velocity or muscle activity with the application of the different taping conditions in the three phases of an overhead baseball throw. These finding suggest Kinesio Tape® does not change muscle activation or velocity of overhead baseball throws when compared to a no tape condition.

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