Acute bilateral experimental neck pain: Reorganise axioscapular and trunk muscle activity during slow resisted arm movements

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-126
Author(s):  
S.W. Christensen ◽  
R.P. Hirata ◽  
T. Graven-Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Neck Pain ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Arm Movements ◽  
Experimental Pain ◽  
Trunk Muscle ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Upward Movement ◽  
Painful Condition ◽  
Pain Patients

AbstractAimsNeck pain is frequent and many develop on-going neck pain after the initial onset. Studies on clinical neck pain suggested that altered axioscapular muscle activity may be an important factor in on-going neck pain. This study investigates the effect of bilateral experimental neck pain on axioscapular muscle activity during standardised resisted arm movements.Methods25 healthy participants were recruited for this single blinded cross-over study. Experimental pain was induced by bilateral injection of hypertonic saline into the splenius capitis muscle. Isotonic saline was used as a control. Pain intensity was recorded using an electronic visual analogue scale (VAS; 0-10 cm). Participants performed standardised arm movements, from a seated position, while wearing 1 kg wrist weights. Six arm abduction movements (30° to frontal plane, 3 per side) were performed to an angle of 140°. Each movement consisted of two 3 s phases (up/down) and was separated by a 6 s break, before moving the opposite arm. Surface electromyography (EMG) was recoded from 8 bilateral muscles. Recordings were done before, immediately after, and 5 min after the experimental pain. Root-mean-square (RMS) of the EMG signals were extracted for each muscle and averaged for the 3 trials. Data was compared between sides and no differences were identified after which data was pooled for further analysis.ResultsDuring the painful condition for the slow upward movement, a reduced RMS-EMG activity was found for the ipsilateral upper trapezius (P< 0.01). In addition, increased RMS-EMG was found bilaterally for the erector spinae muscle (P< 0.01).ConclusionBilateral experimental neck reorganise axioscapular and trunk muscle activity during resisted, slow upward movement. The results of this supports previous studies on neck pain patients suggesting neck pain is linked to axioscapular function and underpins the necessity to include the shoulder girdle in assessment and rehabilitation of neck pain patients.

scholarly journals Alteration in HDEMG Spatial Parameters of Trunk Muscle Due to Handle Design during Pushing

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 6646
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Toner ◽  
Jeremy Rickards ◽  
Kenneth Seaman ◽  
Usha Kuruganti
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Trunk Muscle ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Horizontal Orientation ◽  
Low Back Injuries ◽  
Spatial Parameters ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Pushing And Pulling

Previous research identifies that pushing and pulling is responsible for approximately 9–18% of all low back injuries. Additionally, the handle design of a cart being pushed can dramatically alter a worker’s capacity to push (≅9.5%). Surprisingly little research has examined muscle activation of the low back and its role in muscle function. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of handle design combination of pushing a platform truck cart on trunk muscle activity. Twenty participants (10 males and 10 females, mean age = 24.3 ± 4.3 years) pushed 475 lbs using six different handle combinations involving handle orientation (vertical/horizontal/semi-pronated) and handle height (hip/shoulder). Multichannel high-density EMG (HDsEMG) was recorded for left and right rectus abdominis, erector spinae, and external obliques. Pushing at hip height with a horizontal handle orientation design (HH) resulted in significantly less (p < 0.05) muscle activity compared to the majority of other handle designs, as well as a significantly higher entropy than the shoulder handle height involving either the semi-pronated (p = 0.023) or vertical handle orientation (p = 0.028). The current research suggests that the combination of a hip height and horizontal orientation handle design may require increased muscle demand of the trunk and alter the overall muscle heterogeneity and pattern of the muscle activity.

Validation and comparison of trunk muscle activities in male participants during exercise using an innovative device and abdominal bracing maneuvers

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Yuki Kurokawa ◽  
Satoshi Kato ◽  
Satoru Demura ◽  
Kazuya Shinmura ◽  
Noriaki Yokogawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Trunk Muscle ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Trunk Muscles ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
External Oblique ◽  
Internal Oblique

BACKGROUND: Abdominal bracing is effective in strengthening the trunk muscles; however, assessing performance can be challenging. We created a device for performing abdominal trunk muscle exercises. The effectiveness of this device has not yet been evaluated or compared OBJECTIVE: We aimed to quantify muscle activity levels during exercise using our innovative device and to compare them with muscle activation during abdominal bracing maneuvers. METHODS: This study included 10 men who performed abdominal bracing exercises and exercises using our device. We measured surface electromyogram (EMG) activities of the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique, internal oblique (IO), and erector spinae (ES) muscles in each of the exercises. The EMG data were normalized to those recorded during maximal voluntary contraction (%EMGmax). RESULTS: During the bracing exercise, the %EMGmax of IO was significantly higher than that of RA and ES (p< 0.05), whereas during the exercises using the device, the %EMGmax of IO was significantly higher than that of ES (p< 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the %EMGmax of any muscle between bracing exercises and the exercises using the device (p= 0.13–0.95). CONCLUSIONS: The use of our innovative device results in comparable activation to that observed during abdominal bracing.

scholarly journals Effects of a Dynamic Chair on Chair Seat Motion and Trunk Muscle Activity during Office Tasks and Task Transitions

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corina Nüesch ◽  
Jan-Niklas Kreppke ◽  
Annegret Mündermann ◽  
Lars Donath
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Dynamic Condition ◽  
Trunk Muscle ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Task Transition ◽  
The Right ◽  
Hand Writing ◽  
And Task

Employing dynamic office chairs might increase the physical (micro-) activity during prolonged office sitting. We investigated whether a dynamic BioSwing® chair increases chair sway and alters trunk muscle activation. Twenty-six healthy young adults performed four office tasks (reading, calling, typing, hand writing) and transitions between these tasks while sitting on a dynamic and on a static office chair. For all task-transitions, chair sway was higher in the dynamic condition (p < 0.05). Muscle activation changes were small with lower mean activity of the left obliquus internus during hand writing (p = 0.07), lower mean activity of the right erector spinae during the task-transition calling to hand writing (p = 0.036), and higher mean activity of the left erector spinae during the task-transition reading to calling (p = 0.07) on the dynamic chair. These results indicate that an increased BioSwing® chair sway only selectively alters trunk muscle activation. Adjustments of chair properties (i.e., swinging elements, foot positioning) are recommended.

Examination of Regional Interdependence Theory in Chronic Neck Pain: Interpretations from Correlation of Strength Measures in Cervical and Pain-Free Regions

Pain Medicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Ghamkhar ◽  
Amir Massoud Arab ◽  
Mohammad Reza Nourbakhsh ◽  
Amir Hossein Kahlaee ◽  
Reyhaneh Zolfaghari
Keyword(s):  
Neck Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Neck Disability Index ◽  
Chronic Neck Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity Score ◽  
Painful Condition ◽  
Asymptomatic Volunteers ◽  
Interdependence Theory ◽  
Regional Interdependence ◽  
Pain Patients

Abstract Objective Impairments present in chronic pain conditions have been reported not to be limited to the painful region. Pain-free regions have also been proposed to be adversely affected as a cause or consequence of the painful condition. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between muscle strength in painful and pain-free regions and chronic neck pain. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting Rehabilitation hospital laboratory. Subjects One hundred twenty-two patients with chronic neck pain (87 female) and 98 asymptomatic volunteers (52 female) were included in the study. Methods Maximal isometric strength measures of the neck, scapulothoracic, shoulder, trunk, and hip muscles were assessed using a hand-held dynamometer in all participants. Pain intensity and pain-related disability were also assessed in patients through visual analog scale and Neck Disability Index scores, respectively. Results Principal component analysis revealed one component for each of the studied regions. Multivariate analysis of variance found neck (d = 0.46), scapulothoracic (d = 0.46), shoulder (d = 0.60), trunk flexor (d = 0.38), extensor (d = 0.36), and hip (d = 0.51) strength components to be lower in the neck pain patients compared with asymptomatic participants (P < 0.01). Logistic and linear regression analyses found the shoulder strength component both to be a significant predictor for neck pain occurrence (β = 0.53, P < 0.01) and to have a considerable effect on pain intensity score (β=–0.20, P = 0.02), respectively. Conclusions The results found that some pain-free regions in addition to the cervical spine to exhibit lower levels of muscular strength in neck pain patients. These findings support the regional interdependence theory, which proposes that impairments are not limited to the painful area and are possibly mediated by central mechanisms.

EMG Analysis of Patients with Unilateral Neck Pain

1999 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Whalen ◽  
Steven P. Konstant ◽  
Teddy W. Worrell ◽  
Sam Kegerreis
Keyword(s):  
Neck Pain ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Physical Therapist ◽  
Surface Emg ◽  
High Variability ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Upper Trapezius ◽  
Visual Analog Scales ◽  
Vas Scores ◽  
Emg Electrodes

The purpose of this study was to determine whether differences exist in EMG activity between involved and uninvolved upper trapezius muscles in participants with unilateral neck pain. Thirteen volunteers, seen by a physical therapist, gave informed consent. Surface EMG electrodes were placed on involved and uninvolved upper trapezius muscles. Root mean squared EMG activity was measured. Visual analog scales (VASs) for pain were used for each side. Reliability data indicated high ICC (2,1) but also large SEMs and CVs. EMG activity increased from resting to shrugging to abducting positions. Participants perceived greater pain on the involved side than the uninvolved side. EMG readings for individuals were consistent, however, between participants. EMG had high variability. Although participants' VAS scores were consistent with their reports of unilateral neck pain, surface EMG readings did not support the existence of increased muscle activity on the involved side.

scholarly journals Spinal stiffness changes throughout the respiratory cycle

2003 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 1467-1475 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Shirley ◽  
P. W. Hodges ◽  
A. E. M. Eriksson ◽  
S. C. Gandevia
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Spinous Process ◽  
Lumbar Vertebrae ◽  
Trunk Muscle ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Abdominal Pressure ◽  
Abdominal Muscles ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
Spinal Stiffness ◽  
Wall Stiffness

Posteroanterior stiffness of the lumbar spine is influenced by factors, including trunk muscle activity and intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Because these factors vary with breathing, this study investigated whether stiffness is modulated in a cyclical manner with respiration. A further aim was to investigate the relationship between stiffness and IAP or abdominal and paraspinal muscle activity. Stiffness was measured from force-displacement responses of a posteroanterior force applied over the spinous process of L2and L4. Recordings were made of IAP and electromyographic activity from L4/L2erector spinae, abdominal muscles, and chest wall. Stiffness was measured with the lung volume held at the extremes of tidal volume and at greater and lesser volumes. Stiffness at L4and L2increased above base-level values at functional residual capacity (L214.9 N/mm and L415.3 N/mm) with both inspiratory and expiratory efforts. The increase was related to the respiratory effort and was greatest during maximum expiration (L224.9 N/mm and L423.9 N/mm). The results indicate that changes in trunk muscle activity and IAP with respiratory efforts modulate spinal stiffness. In addition, the diaphragm may augment spinal stiffness via attachment of its crural fibers to the lumbar vertebrae.

Electromyographic Activity of Trunk Muscles During Flexion-Distraction Treatment of Low Back Patients

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maruti R. Gudavalli ◽  
Jerrilyn A. Backman ◽  
Steven J. Kirstukas ◽  
Anant V. Kadiyala ◽  
Avinash G. Patwardhan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Trunk Muscles ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Flexion Extension ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
The Mean

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the superficial muscles during the treatment of low back patients during a conservative procedure known as the Cox flexion-distraction procedure. A total of 33 low back pain patients were recruited for this study from chiropractic and allopathic orthopedic clinics. EMG signals were collected while the patient was in a prone relaxed position, during the treatment using the flexion-distraction procedure, and during maximum voluntary exertions in the three planes (flexion, extension, left and right lateral bending, and left and right twisting). The mean values of the Root Mean Square (RMS) values of EMG ratios during treatment versus resting indicate that the muscles are active during the treatment. This activity is more than the activity at rest. However the mean values of the RMS EMG ratios (during treatment versus maximum voluntary contraction) are small indicating that the muscle activity during treatment may not influence the treatment loads. The left and right muscles in all muscle groups were similarly active. During the treatment, erector spinae muscles were the most active, followed by the external oblique, and the rectus abdominus muscles. The results from this study provide quantitative data for the muscle activity during the flexion-distraction treatment. This information can be incorporated into computer models to estimate the loads generated during the flexion-distraction treatment due to the muscle activity compared to the loads generated by the chiropractic physician.

scholarly journals Guidelines for Working Heights of the Lower-Limb Exoskeleton (CEX) Based on Ergonomic Evaluations

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5199
Author(s):  
Yong-Ku Kong ◽  
Chae-Won Park ◽  
Min-Uk Cho ◽  
Seoung-Yeon Kim ◽  
Min-Jung Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Biceps Brachii ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Triceps Brachii ◽  
Lower Limb Exoskeleton ◽  
Upper Trapezius ◽  
Subjective Discomfort

The aim of this study was to evaluate the muscle activities and subjective discomfort according to the heights of tasks and the lower-limb exoskeleton CEX (Chairless EXoskeleton), which is a chair-type passive exoskeleton. Twenty healthy subjects (thirteen males and seven females) participated in this experiment. The independent variables were wearing of the exoskeleton (w/ CEX, w/o CEX), working height (6 levels: 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140 cm), and muscle type (8 levels: upper trapezius (UT), erector spinae (ES), middle deltoid (MD), triceps brachii (TB), biceps brachii (BB), biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), and tibialis anterior (TA)). The dependent variables were EMG activity (% MVC) and subjective discomfort rating. When wearing the CEX, the UT, ES, RF, and TA showed lower muscle activities at low working heights (40–80 cm) than not wearing the CEX, whereas those muscles showed higher muscle activities at high working heights (100–140 cm). Use of the CEX had a positive effect on subjective discomfort rating at lower working heights. Generally, lower discomfort was reported at working heights below 100 cm when using the CEX. At working heights of 100–140 cm, the muscle activity when wearing the CEX tended to be greater than when not wearing it. Thus, considering the results of this study, the use of the lower-limb exoskeleton (CEX) at a working height of 40–100 cm might reduce the muscle activity and discomfort of whole body and decrease the risk of related disorders.

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