Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Mechanical performance and electromyography during repeated maximal isokinetic shoulder forward flexions in female cleaners with and without myalgia of the trapezius muscle and in healthy controls

Larsson, Britt LU ; Björk, Jonas LU orcid ; Elert, J and Gerdle, B (2000) In European Journal of Applied Physiology 83(4-5). p.257-267
Abstract
This cross-sectional study aimed at investigating the influence of occupational exposure to static and highly repetitive work involving the neck and shoulder muscles, myalgia of and tender point in the trapezius muscle on biomechanical output, and electromyogram (EMG) variables (mean frequency MNF, signal amplitude and ability to relax) during maximal forward flexions of the shoulder muscles. Groups of 25 cleaners suffering from chronic myalgia of the trapezius muscle, 25 cleaners free from myalgia of the trapezius muscle and 21 teachers performed 150 forward flexions using an isokinetic dynamometer. Perception of fatigue was reported and surface EMG was recorded from four muscles during the endurance test. The cleaners were stronger than... (More)
This cross-sectional study aimed at investigating the influence of occupational exposure to static and highly repetitive work involving the neck and shoulder muscles, myalgia of and tender point in the trapezius muscle on biomechanical output, and electromyogram (EMG) variables (mean frequency MNF, signal amplitude and ability to relax) during maximal forward flexions of the shoulder muscles. Groups of 25 cleaners suffering from chronic myalgia of the trapezius muscle, 25 cleaners free from myalgia of the trapezius muscle and 21 teachers performed 150 forward flexions using an isokinetic dynamometer. Perception of fatigue was reported and surface EMG was recorded from four muscles during the endurance test. The cleaners were stronger than the teachers. Myalgia was associated with lower levels of endurance and a high degree of perceived fatigue. The ability to relax the trapezius muscle decreased with age and was even lower in cleaners with and without myalgia. Higher MNF of the deltoid muscle but not of the trapezius muscle was found in the group suffering from myalgia compared to the groups free from myalgia. This cross-sectional study indicated that myalgia of the trapezius muscle did not influence the strength but did influence the endurance of the forward flexor muscles of cleaners. The observed decrease in the ability to relax the trapezius muscle in cleaners compared to healthy teachers might be indicative of a future insufficiency in the muscle. Prospective studies are needed to define the significance of the results presented here. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Women cleaners, Electromyography, Endurance and strength, Myalgia, Trapezius muscle
in
European Journal of Applied Physiology
volume
83
issue
4-5
pages
257 - 267
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:11138562
  • scopus:0034529760
ISSN
1439-6327
DOI
10.1007/s004210000292
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7c675d9e-28f4-430e-83bf-af9b702d9a6d (old id 1117219)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:28:29
date last changed
2025-01-02 19:13:22
@article{7c675d9e-28f4-430e-83bf-af9b702d9a6d,
  abstract     = {{This cross-sectional study aimed at investigating the influence of occupational exposure to static and highly repetitive work involving the neck and shoulder muscles, myalgia of and tender point in the trapezius muscle on biomechanical output, and electromyogram (EMG) variables (mean frequency MNF, signal amplitude and ability to relax) during maximal forward flexions of the shoulder muscles. Groups of 25 cleaners suffering from chronic myalgia of the trapezius muscle, 25 cleaners free from myalgia of the trapezius muscle and 21 teachers performed 150 forward flexions using an isokinetic dynamometer. Perception of fatigue was reported and surface EMG was recorded from four muscles during the endurance test. The cleaners were stronger than the teachers. Myalgia was associated with lower levels of endurance and a high degree of perceived fatigue. The ability to relax the trapezius muscle decreased with age and was even lower in cleaners with and without myalgia. Higher MNF of the deltoid muscle but not of the trapezius muscle was found in the group suffering from myalgia compared to the groups free from myalgia. This cross-sectional study indicated that myalgia of the trapezius muscle did not influence the strength but did influence the endurance of the forward flexor muscles of cleaners. The observed decrease in the ability to relax the trapezius muscle in cleaners compared to healthy teachers might be indicative of a future insufficiency in the muscle. Prospective studies are needed to define the significance of the results presented here.}},
  author       = {{Larsson, Britt and Björk, Jonas and Elert, J and Gerdle, B}},
  issn         = {{1439-6327}},
  keywords     = {{Women cleaners; Electromyography; Endurance and strength; Myalgia; Trapezius muscle}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4-5}},
  pages        = {{257--267}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Applied Physiology}},
  title        = {{Mechanical performance and electromyography during repeated maximal isokinetic shoulder forward flexions in female cleaners with and without myalgia of the trapezius muscle and in healthy controls}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004210000292}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s004210000292}},
  volume       = {{83}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}