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Experimental pain leads to reorganisation of trapezius electromyography during computer work with active and passive pauses

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Abstract

The aim of this laboratory study was to investigate acute effects of experimental muscle pain on spatial electromyographic (EMG) activity of the trapezius muscle during computer work with active and passive pauses. Twelve healthy male subjects performed four sessions of computer work for 2 min in one day, with passive (relax) and active (30% maximum voluntary contraction of shoulder elevation) pauses given every 40 s without and with presence of experimental pain. Surface EMG signals were recorded from four parts of the trapezius. The centroid of exposure variation analysis along the time axis was lower during computer work with active pauses when compared with passive one in all muscle parts (P < 0.05). In presence of experimental pain, EMG amplitude increased in transverse and ascending parts and relative rest time decreased in ascending part. The results of this study showed a more variable trapezius activity pattern and increased activity with active compared with passive pauses, a lowered trapezius rest with presence of experimental pain, and increased activity in the transverse and ascending parts of trapezius due to experimental pain during computer work. Acute pain led to muscle activation pattern during computer work considered to increase the risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Hongling Nie for his help during data collecting. This study was financially supported by Det Obelske Familiefond and the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Ergonomics and Work-related Disorders, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7 D-3, 9220, Aalborg East, Denmark

    Afshin Samani & Pascal Madeleine

  2. National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Afshin Samani & Andreas Holtermann

  3. Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark

    Karen Søgaard

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  1. Afshin Samani
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  2. Andreas Holtermann
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  4. Pascal Madeleine
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Correspondence to Pascal Madeleine.

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Samani, A., Holtermann, A., Søgaard, K. et al. Experimental pain leads to reorganisation of trapezius electromyography during computer work with active and passive pauses. Eur J Appl Physiol 106, 857–866 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1083-9

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