Influence of Neck-Shoulder Pain on Trapezius Muscle Activity among Professional Violin and Viola Players

Physiotherapy ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrice Berque
2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (11) ◽  
pp. 1128-1138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori A Michener ◽  
N Douglas Boardman ◽  
Peter E Pidcoe ◽  
Angela M Frith

Abstract Background and Purpose. Scapular muscle performance evaluated with a handheld dynamometer (HHD) has been investigated only in people without shoulder dysfunction for test-retest reliability of data obtained with a single scapular muscle test. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability, error, and validity of data obtained with an HHD for 4 scapular muscle tests in subjects with shoulder pain and functional loss. Subjects and Methods. Subjects (N=40) with shoulder pain and functional loss were tested bymeasuring the kilograms applied with an HHD during 3 trials for muscle tests for the lower trapezius, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, and serratus anterior muscles. Concurrently, surface electromyography (sEMG) data were collected for the 4 muscles. The same procedures were performed 24 to 72 hours after the initial testing by the same tester. Muscle tests were performed 3 times, and the results were averaged for data analysis. Results. Intraclass correlation coefficients for intratester reliability of measurements of isometricforce obtained using an HHD ranged from .89 to .96. The standard error of the measure (90% confidenceinterval [CI]) ranged from 1.3 to 2.7 kg; the minimal detectable change (90% CI) ranged from 1.8 to 3.6 kg. Construct validity assessment, done by comparing the amounts of isometric muscle activity (sEMG) for each muscle across the 4 muscle tests, revealed that the muscle activity of the upper trapezius and lower trapezius muscles washighest during their respective tests. Conversely, the isometric muscle activity of the middle trapezius and serratus anterior muscles was not highest during their respective tests. Discussion and Conclusion. In people with shoulder pain and functional loss, the intrarater reliability and error over 1 to 3 days were established using an HHD for measurement of isometric force for the assessment of scapular muscle performance. Error values can be used to make decisions regarding individual patients. Construct validity was established for the lower and upper trapezius muscle tests; therefore, these tests are advocated for use. However, construct validity was not demonstrated for the serratus anterior and middle trapezius muscle tests as performed in this study. Further investigation of these muscle tests is warranted.


Author(s):  
Suzanne Lerato Merkus ◽  
Svend Erik Mathiassen ◽  
Lars-Kristian Lunde ◽  
Markus Koch ◽  
Morten Wærsted ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To determine whether a composite metric of arm elevation and trapezius activity (i.e. neck/shoulder load) is more strongly associated with the 2-year course of neck and shoulder pain intensity (NSPi) among construction and healthcare workers than each exposure separately. Methods Dominant arm elevation and upper trapezius muscle activity were estimated in construction and healthcare employees (n = 118) at baseline, using accelerometry and normalized surface electromyography (%MVE), respectively. At baseline and every 6 months for 2 years, workers reported NSPi (score 0–3). Compositions of working time were determined for arm elevation (< 30°; 30–60°;  > 60°), trapezius activity (< 0.5%; 0.5–7.0%; > 7.0%MVE), and a composite metric “neck/shoulder load” (restitution, low, medium, and high load). Associations between each of these three compositions and the 2-year course of NSPi were determined using linear mixed models. Results Associations between exposure compositions and the course of NSPi were all weak and in general uncertain. Time spent in 0.5–7.0%MVE showed the largest and most certain association with changes in NSPi during follow-up (β = − 0.13; p = 0.037; corresponding to a −0.01 change in NPSi every 6 months). Among pain-free workers at baseline, medium (β = − 0.23; p = 0.039) and high (β = 0.15; p = 0.031) neck/shoulder load contributed the most to explaining changes in NSPi. Conclusion The composite metric of neck/shoulder load did not show a stronger association with the course of NSPi than arm elevation or trapezius activity alone in the entire population, while some indications of a stronger association were found among those who were pain-free at baseline.


2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 235-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif Sandsj� ◽  
Bo Melin ◽  
Dag Riss�n ◽  
Ingela Dohns ◽  
Ulf Lundberg

2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 390-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Therese N Hanvold ◽  
Morten Wærsted ◽  
Anne Marit Mengshoel ◽  
Espen Bjertness ◽  
Hein Stigum ◽  
...  

2002 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrice Berque ◽  
Heather Gray

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the neck-shoulder area are common among violin and viola players. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) on muscle activity, by measuring electromyographic activity in the upper trapezius (UT) muscles of violin and viola players under three experimental conditions: rest, performance of an easy piece, and performance of a difficult piece. Ten professional violin and viola players from a Scottish orchestra volunteered to take part in the study. Five subjects complained of pain in the neck-shoulder region; five were pain-free. Bilateral surface electromyography (EMG) was used, following submaximal reference voluntary contractions, to record the muscle activity of the UT muscles during the three experimental conditions. Subjects were randomly allocated to the conditions. A four-factor balanced analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed. The results revealed that the pain-free subjects developed more UT muscle activity than subjects experiencing neck-shoulder pain (F = 4.07, df = 1, p = 0.05). Furthermore, the subjects developed significantly more UT activity when progressing from the rest condition to performance of the difficult piece (F = 36.64, df = 2, p> < 0.001). The PRMD subjects developed more UT activity than the pain-free subjects at rest. The opposite tendency was observed for the playing conditions. However, the results were not statistically significant for this interaction (F = 1.85, df = 2, p = 0.169). The results suggest that redistribution of the load to other synergistic muscles may be a strategy used by PRMD subjects to alleviate pain or discomfort at the nec-shoulder area. The voluntary monitoring of shoulder muscle activity may be of great importance in the prevention of PRMDs in viola and violin players.


Author(s):  
Nathan B. Fethke ◽  
Fred Gerr ◽  
Daniel C. Anton ◽  
Joseph E. Cavanaugh ◽  
Thomas M. Cook

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare the observed associations between upper trapezius muscle activity, as estimated with several summary measures obtained from surface electromyography (EMG), and self-reported neck/shoulder pain among a sample of 231 manufacturing workers. EMG methods used in this study included mean root-mean-square amplitude, the amplitude probability distribution function (APDF), EMG gaps analysis, and clustered exposure variation analysis. The observed seven-day prevalence of neck/shoulder pain was 13.9%. Of the EMG summary measures, only the 90 th percentile of the APDF was significantly associated with symptoms, with crude and adjusted odds ratios of 2.57 (1.02–6.49) and 2.78 (1.07–7.21) per natural log unit, respectively. This study was largely inconclusive due to the similarity in the distributions of the summary measures between symptomatic and non-symptomatic participants, and explicit measures of posture and repetition may produce stronger associations with symptoms.


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