Comparison of Muscular Activity of the Upper Trapezius and Erector Spinae Muscles due to the Carrying of Backpacks and Shoulder Bags in Young Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 30-37
Author(s):  
So-yeon Lee ◽  
◽  
Yeon-ji Ko ◽  
Ji-suk Moon ◽  
Su-jin Hwang
Author(s):  
Corina Nüesch ◽  
Jan-Niklas Kreppke ◽  
Annegret Mündermann ◽  
Lars Donath

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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-18
Author(s):  
OSAMA J. ALÍ-MORELL ◽  
FÉLIX ZURITA-ORTEGA ◽  
BERENICE FERNÁNDEZ-ESTÉVEZ ◽  
BEATRIZ PADILLA-OBISPO ◽  
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ-PORCEL

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the relation of muscular response to the vestibular stimulation of the erector spinae, specifically longissimus thoracis and iliocostalis lumborum, with the origin of scoliosis in a population of individuals with level V cerebral palsy of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Methods: Cross-sectional study of 12 individuals aged between four and 14 years. The muscular activity of the longissimus thoracis and iliocostalis lumborum was recorded by electromyography in the presence of anteroposterior and lateral imbalances, comparing it with that obtained in sitting position without imbalances. Scoliosis was assessed by radiological study following Cobb method. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between correct responses of both muscles to anteroposterior imbalances and absence of right thoracolumbar scoliosis (p=0.005; p=0.028), left thoracic scoliosis (p=0.005; p=0.046) and right lumbar scoliosis (p=0.005; p=0.046). Conclusions: The symmetry of muscular responses to anteroposterior imbalances, both of longissimus thoracis and iliocostalis lumborum, seems to be one of the factors that prevent the development of spine deviations in this population. Level of evidence: IV. Type of Study: Case series


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneta Wieczorek ◽  
Jolanta Loster ◽  
Bartlomiej W. Loster

Healthy subjects have a prevalent side on which they display higher-muscle activity during clenching. The relationship between symmetry of masseter muscle (MM) and anterior temporalis (TA) muscle activities and occlusion has been evaluated on the basis of physiological parameters. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the symmetry of surface EMG (sEMG) activity in asymptomatic young adults is related to symmetry of occlusal contacts.Material. The study population consisted of seventy-two 18-year-old subjects with no temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms.Method. All the participants underwent an sEMG recording with an 8-channel electromyograph (BioEMG III). A T-Scan III evolution 7.01 device was used to analyze the occlusal contact points.Results. The correlation between the activity of right (R) and left (L) TA and the percentage of occlusal contacts was assessed, but no significant differences were found between the RMM and LMM muscles. The differences in the medium values of sEMG between males and females were not statistically significant. Equilibrated muscular activity between RTA and LTA occurred when occlusal contacts reached the percentage of 65% on the left side.Conclusion. The symmetry of sEMG activity in asymptomatic young adults is not related to symmetry of occlusal contacts.


Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 480
Author(s):  
Youngsook Bae

This study aimed to identify the activation of lower extremity, trunk, and masticatory muscle and trunk kinematics of the initial foot position during the sit-to-stand (STS) movement. Sixteen young men participated in this cross-sectional pilot study and performed STS using both symmetrical and asymmetrical foot positions. Activation of the tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius lateral head (GA), rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), rectus abdominis, erector spinae (ES), sternocleidomastoid (SCM), upper trapezius (UT), temporalis (TE), and masseter muscles in the dominant side was determined. For trunk kinematics, head and trunk velocities, front-back (For-Back) and mediolateral (Med-Lat) weight translation rates, and trunk inclination were measured. GA, TA, BF, and RF activation significantly increased, whereas ES, SCM, UT, and TE activation significantly decreased when using the asymmetrical foot position. Head velocity, For-Back, Med-Lat, and trunk inclination were also significantly decreased. In conclusion, the asymmetrical foot position increases muscle activation in the lower extremities and decreases trunk inclination. In addition, ES, UT, and TE muscle activity decreases at the initial asymmetrical foot position.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
VAE Baadjou ◽  
MDF van Eijsden-Besseling ◽  
JAMCF Verbunt ◽  
RA de Bie ◽  
RPJ Geers ◽  
...  

Musculoskeletal complaints are highly prevalent in clarinetists and are related to high arm load while playing. It is hypothesized that postural exercise therapy may be used to adapt muscle activity patterns while playing and thus contribute to better sound quality. The goal of the present study was to investigate the relationship between body posture, muscle activity, and sound quality in clarinetists while playing the instrument in two different postures, their habitual sitting posture (control, CO) vs an experimental sitting posture (EXP) based on Mensendieck postural exercise therapy, method Samama. Twenty healthy professional and student clarinet players, aged 18–60 years, were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants played a 60-second musical excerpt in CO, followed by instruction on the EXP body posture, and then played in the EXP condition. Two-dimensional goniometric analysis was used to calculate body posture; muscle activity was measured bilaterally using surface electromyography. In EXP, a significantly smaller low thoracic angle, smaller high thoracic angle, and larger pelvic tilt angle (all p<0.001) were found. EMG results indicated that the left and right erector spinae L3 and left and right lower trapezius were more active in EXP compared to CO, whereas left upper trapezius and right brachioradialis were less active in EXP than CO. Most participants experienced better sound quality in EXP, whereas blinded experts found no consistent pattern between body posture and sound quality. To conclude, it seems that postural exercise therapy may change muscle activity patterns. By increasing stability, a decrease in activity of the upper extremity muscles can be induced.


2020 ◽  
Vol 03 (01) ◽  
pp. 045-048
Author(s):  
Adrián Benito Domingo ◽  
Alberto García Godino

Abstract Introduction The current lifestyle, related to the indiscriminate use of screens from early ages with sustained postures, can cause structural changes (osteophytes) to the upper trapezius enthesis on the external occipital protuberance. Such findings in the skull are rare and usually asymptomatic, especially in young adults. Therefore, it is important to analyze, evaluate and correlate these findings with the patient's symptoms. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is an ideal tool to enable the evaluation of these structural alterations. Description of the Exam Prone position avoiding cranio-cervical hyperextension. A linear probe is used with a low frequency range (8–10 Mhz) The scan used as a reference is the transverse exam of the bone prominence. Subsequently, this is confirmed with a longitudinal exam, which is used to measure the osteophyte. The normal reference value is <10 mm. Discussion The ultrasound exam described above enables the easily reproducible assessment and measurement of osteophytes and insertional soft tissue at this level to enhance treatment planning.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 282-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff A. Nessler ◽  
Thomas Hastings ◽  
Kevin Greer ◽  
Sean C. Newcomer

Low back pain is a commonly reported problem among recreational surfers. Some individuals report that wearing a vest with an inflatable bladder that alters trunk angle may help to alleviate pain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether such a vest has an effect on muscle activation and extension of the lower back. Twelve recreational surfers completed 12 paddling trials at 1.1 m/s in a swim flume on both a shortboard and a longboard on 2 separate days. Three conditions of no vest, vest uninflated, and vest inflated were presented to participants in random order. Surface EMG and trunk angle were acquired via wireless sensors placed over the right erector spinae, mid-trapezius, upper trapezius, and latissimus dorsi. Wearing the inflated vest affected muscle activation: erector spinae and mid-trapezius demonstrated a significant decrease in activation relative to wearing no vest (12% and 18% respectively, p < .05). Trunk extension was also significantly reduced when the vest was inflated (18% reduction, p < .05). Results were similar for both the short and longboard, though this effect was greater while paddling the larger board. These results suggest that a properly inflated vest can alter trunk extension and muscle activity while paddling a surfboard in water.


Author(s):  
Amanda M. Farias Zuniga ◽  
Julie N. Côté

Objective: The effects of performing a 90-minute computer task with a laptop versus a dual monitor desktop workstation were investigated in healthy young male and female adults. Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are common among computer (especially female) users. Laptops have surpassed desktop computer sales, and working with multiple monitors has also become popular. However, few studies have provided objective evidence on how they affect the musculoskeletal system in both genders. Methods: Twenty-seven healthy participants (mean age = 24.6 years; 13 males) completed a 90-minute computer task while using a laptop or dual monitor (DualMon) desktop. Electromyography (EMG) from eight upper body muscles and visual strain were measured throughout the task. Neck proprioception was tested before and after the computer task using a head-repositioning test. EMG amplitude (root mean square [RMS]), variability (coefficients of variation [CV]), and normalized mutual information (NMI) were computed. Results: Visual strain ( p < .01) and right upper trapezius RMS ( p = .03) increased significantly over time regardless of workstation. Right cervical erector spinae RMS and cervical NMI were smaller, while degrees of overshoot (mean = 4.15°) and end position error (mean = 1.26°) were larger in DualMon regardless of time. Effects on muscle activity were more pronounced in males, whereas effects on proprioception were more pronounced in females. Conclusion: Results suggest that compared to laptop, DualMon work is effective in reducing cervical muscle activity, dissociating cervical connectivity, and maintaining more typical neck repositioning patterns, suggesting some health-protective effects. Application: This evidence could be considered when deciding on computer workstation designs.


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