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Could work-related muscle activity explain sex differences in neck pain? A meta-analysis of a pooled dataset

Koch, Markus ; Lunde, Lars Kristian ; Forsman, Mikael ; Andersen, Lars Louis ; Jakobsen, Markus Due ; Brandt, Mikkel ; Enquist, Henrik LU orcid ; Sjøgaard, Gisela ; Søgaard, Karen and Fan, Xuelong , et al. (2025) In Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health 51(4). p.323-332
Abstract

Objectives Sustained activity of the upper trapezius muscle during work has been linked to the development of neck pain. Women have higher occurrences of neck pain than men, even in the same occupations. This study aimed to investigate sex-specific associations between upper trapezius muscle activity time-related variables and neck pain using a meta-analysis of pooled data. Methods Seven Scandinavian research institutes provided surface electromyographic (EMG) data on the upper trapezius muscle activity during work and related questionnaire-based data on neck pain severity. EMG and questionnaire data were harmonized and pooled. Associations between upper trapezius muscle activity variables [median muscle activity, frequency of muscular... (More)

Objectives Sustained activity of the upper trapezius muscle during work has been linked to the development of neck pain. Women have higher occurrences of neck pain than men, even in the same occupations. This study aimed to investigate sex-specific associations between upper trapezius muscle activity time-related variables and neck pain using a meta-analysis of pooled data. Methods Seven Scandinavian research institutes provided surface electromyographic (EMG) data on the upper trapezius muscle activity during work and related questionnaire-based data on neck pain severity. EMG and questionnaire data were harmonized and pooled. Associations between upper trapezius muscle activity variables [median muscle activity, frequency of muscular rest periods, and periods with sustained muscle activity (SUMA)] and neck pain severity were investigated separately for women (N=293) and men (N=418) using linear regression analyses. Results In the cross-sectional analyses, women showed significant positive associations between the number of short SUMA periods and negative associations for long SUMA periods in regard to neck pain severity. In the longitudinal analyses, women showed no significant associations. In the cross-sectional analysis for men, one significant positive association was found between median upper trapezius muscle activity and neck pain severity. Conclusions Compared to men, neck pain severity among women appears to be more dependent on upper trapezius muscle activity patterns at work. Therefore, ergonomic and organizational recommendations for work should be sex-specific or adjusted for women to reduce their prevalence of neck pain. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these sex differences.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
electromyography, gender, musculoskeletal pain, occupational health, upper trapezius, work break
in
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
volume
51
issue
4
pages
10 pages
publisher
Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health
external identifiers
  • pmid:40208222
  • scopus:105009231075
ISSN
0355-3140
DOI
10.5271/sjweh.4227
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2025, Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health. All rights reserved.
id
179c5b7c-c955-4cc9-bbd7-1a4bb59978a6
date added to LUP
2025-12-15 15:59:59
date last changed
2025-12-15 16:00:56
@article{179c5b7c-c955-4cc9-bbd7-1a4bb59978a6,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives Sustained activity of the upper trapezius muscle during work has been linked to the development of neck pain. Women have higher occurrences of neck pain than men, even in the same occupations. This study aimed to investigate sex-specific associations between upper trapezius muscle activity time-related variables and neck pain using a meta-analysis of pooled data. Methods Seven Scandinavian research institutes provided surface electromyographic (EMG) data on the upper trapezius muscle activity during work and related questionnaire-based data on neck pain severity. EMG and questionnaire data were harmonized and pooled. Associations between upper trapezius muscle activity variables [median muscle activity, frequency of muscular rest periods, and periods with sustained muscle activity (SUMA)] and neck pain severity were investigated separately for women (N=293) and men (N=418) using linear regression analyses. Results In the cross-sectional analyses, women showed significant positive associations between the number of short SUMA periods and negative associations for long SUMA periods in regard to neck pain severity. In the longitudinal analyses, women showed no significant associations. In the cross-sectional analysis for men, one significant positive association was found between median upper trapezius muscle activity and neck pain severity. Conclusions Compared to men, neck pain severity among women appears to be more dependent on upper trapezius muscle activity patterns at work. Therefore, ergonomic and organizational recommendations for work should be sex-specific or adjusted for women to reduce their prevalence of neck pain. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these sex differences.</p>}},
  author       = {{Koch, Markus and Lunde, Lars Kristian and Forsman, Mikael and Andersen, Lars Louis and Jakobsen, Markus Due and Brandt, Mikkel and Enquist, Henrik and Sjøgaard, Gisela and Søgaard, Karen and Fan, Xuelong and Veiersted, Kaj Bo}},
  issn         = {{0355-3140}},
  keywords     = {{electromyography; gender; musculoskeletal pain; occupational health; upper trapezius; work break}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{323--332}},
  publisher    = {{Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health}},
  title        = {{Could work-related muscle activity explain sex differences in neck pain? A meta-analysis of a pooled dataset}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4227}},
  doi          = {{10.5271/sjweh.4227}},
  volume       = {{51}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}