Changes in EMG activity in the upper trapezius muscle due to local vibration exposure

Investigation of hand muscle fatigue and its influential factors in manual tasks

Muscle fatigue (MF) can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the long term; however, it can be managed if the causes are well known. This study aimed to examine the grip force (GF) and grip fatigue (GFa) of employees with light, moderate and heavy manual tasks using a dynamometer and find their possible relationship with other factors. The nature of heavy manual tasks led to more experience of GFa and GF of the right hand. Moreover, the equal need for both hands in occupations with light and moderate manual tasks is the reason for more GFa in the left hand. In this primary study, the height, weight and age of subjects and their exposure to vibration had a decisive effect on GF. In order to determine the accurate effects of the aforementioned risk factors on MF, it is recommended for future studies to be performed on larger populations.

Effect of one bout of local vibration exercise with blood flow restriction on neuromuscular and hormonal responses

This study aimed to investigate the effects of single local vibration (LV) with and without blood flow restriction (BFR) on muscle activity and hormonal responses. A total of 12 physically inactive males were exposed to 10 sets of intermittent LV (35-40 Hz) on unilateral mid-quadriceps in the supine lying position and LV + BFR (inflated to 140 mmHg) sessions in a repeated-measures randomized crossover design, with a 1-week interval separating the sessions. The results indicated that the electromyography values from the rectus femoris during LV + BFR were greater than those during LV (p < 0.05). LV + BFR caused a minor increase in the lactate (LA) response (p < 0.05); LV with or without BFR failed to elicit change in growth hormone (GH) and testosterone (T) levels (p > 0.05). Cortisol (C) levels were decreased postexercise in both the sessions (p < 0.05). In conclusion, BFR elicited higher increase in muscle activity and metabolic response, but it did not induce hormonal responses. The exposure of LV and LV + BFR may only have a relief effect as detected by the reduction in C levels, probably because the LV did not elicit sufficient stimulus to the muscles.

Vehicle Exposure and Spinal Musculature Fatigue in Military Warfighters: A Meta-Analysis

CONTEXT

 Spinal musculature fatigue from vehicle exposure may place warfighters at risk for spinal injuries and pain. Research on the relationship between vehicle exposure and spinal musculature fatigue is conflicting. A better understanding of the effect of military duty on musculoskeletal function is needed before sports medicine teams can develop injury-prevention programs.

OBJECTIVE

 To determine if the literature supports a definite effect of vehicle exposure on spinal musculature fatigue.

DATA SOURCES

 We searched the MEDLINE, Military & Government Collection (EBSCO), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Technical Information Center, PubMed, and Web of Science databases for articles published between January 1990 and September 2015.

STUDY SELECTION

 To be included, a study required a clear sampling method, preexposure and postexposure assessments of fatigue, a defined objective measurement of fatigue, a defined exposure time, and a study goal of exposing participants to forces related to vehicle exposure.

DATA EXTRACTION

 Sample size, mean preexposure and postexposure measures of fatigue, vehicle type, and exposure time.

DATA SYNTHESIS

 Six studies met the inclusion criteria. We used the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network algorithm to determine the appropriate tool for quality appraisal of each article. Unweighted random-effects model meta-analyses were conducted, and a natural log response ratio was used as the effect metric. The overall meta-analysis demonstrated that vehicle exposure increased fatigue of the spinal musculature (P = .03; natural log response ratio = -0.22, 95% confidence interval = -0.42, -0.02). Using the spinal region as a moderator, we observed that vehicle ride exposure significantly increased fatigue at the lumbar musculature (P = .02; natural log response ratio = -0.27, 95% confidence interval = -0.50, -0.04) but not at the cervical or thoracic region.

CONCLUSIONS

 Vehicle exposure increased fatigue at the lumbar region.

Effect of combining traction and vibration on back muscles, heart rate and blood pressure

Eighty-five percent of the population has experienced low back pain (LBP), which may result in decreasing muscle strength and endurance, functional capacity of the spine, and so on. Traction and vibration are commonly used to relieve the low back pain. The effect of the combing traction and vibration on back muscles, heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) was investigated in this study. Thirty healthy subjects participated in 12 trials lying supine on the spine-combing bed with different tilt angle (0°, 10°, 20° and 30°) and vibration modes (along with the sagittal and coronal axis with 0 Hz, 2 Hz and 12 Hz separately). EMG was recorded during each trial. Power spectral frequency analysis was applied to evaluate muscle fatigue by the shift of median power frequency (MPF). Pulse pressure (PP) was calculated from BP. HR and PP were used to estimate the effect of the combination of traction and vibration on the cardio-vascular system. It was shown that vibration could increase HR and decrease PP. The combination of traction and vibration (2 Hz vibration along Z-axis and 12 Hz vibration along Y-axis) had no significant effect on the cardio-vascular system. The MPF of lumbar erector spinae (LES) and upper trapezius (UT) decreased significantly when the angle reached 20° under the condition of 2 Hz vibration along Z-axis compared with it of 0°. Furthermore, the MPF also decreased significantly compared with it of static mode at 20° for LES and at 30° for UT. However at 12 Hz vibration along Y-axis, the MPF had significant increase when the angle reached 20° in LES and 30° in UT compared to 0°. For LES, the MPF also had significant difference when the angle was increased from 10° to 20°. Therefore, combining 2 Hz vibration along Z-axis and traction (tilt angles that less than 20°) may to reduce muscle fatigue both for LES and UT compared with either vibration or traction alone. The combination of 12 Hz vibration along Y-axis and traction (tilt angles greater than 10° for LES and more than 20° for UT) could provide good treatment of lower muscle fatigue for back pain compared with either vibration or traction alone. It is helpful to provide biomechanical quantitative basis for the selection of the clinical treatment methods.

Comparative study of upper limb load assessment and occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders at repetitive task workstations

This study explored the relationship between subjectively assessed complaints of pain in the arm, forearm and hand, and musculoskeletal load caused by repetitive tasks. Workers (n=942) were divided into 22 subgroups, according to the type of their workstations. They answered questions on perceived musculoskeletal pain of upper limbs. Basic and aggregate indices from a questionnaire on the prevalence, intensity and frequency of pain were compared with an upper limb load indicator (repetitive task index, RTI) calculated with the recently developed Upper Limb Risk Assessment (ULRA). There was relatively strong correlation of RTI and general intensity and frequency of pain in the arm, and general intensity and frequency of pain in the arm and forearm or prevalence of pain in the arm. Frequency and intensity of pain in the arm were weakly correlated. An aggregate indicator of evaluation of MSDs, which was calculated on the basis of the prevalence, intensity and frequency of pain, was to a higher degree associated with the musculoskeletal load of a task than basic evaluative parameters. Thus, such an aggregate indicator can be an alternative in comparing subjectively assessed MSDs with task-related musculoskeletal load and in establishing limit levels for that load.

Assessment of muscle fatigue associated with prolonged standing in the workplace

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to determine the psychological fatigue and analyze muscle activity of production workers who are performing processes jobs while standing for prolonged time periods.

Methods

The psychological fatigue experienced by the workers was obtained through questionnaire surveys. Meanwhile, muscle activity has been analyzed using surface electromyography (sEMG) measurement. Lower extremities muscles include: erector spinae, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius were concurrently measured for more than five hours of standing. Twenty male production workers in a metal stamping company participated as subjects in this study. The subjects were required to undergo questionnaire surveys and sEMG measurement.

Results

Results of the questionnaire surveys found that all subjects experienced psychological fatigue due to prolonged standing jobs. Similarly, muscle fatigue has been identified through sEMG measurement. Based on the non-parametric statistical test using the Spearman's rank order correlation, the left erector spinae obtained a moderate positive correlation and statistically significant (r_s = 0.552, p < 0.05) between the results of questionnaire surveys and sEMG measurement.

Conclusion

Based on this study, the authors concluded that prolonged standing was contributed to psychological fatigue and to muscle fatigue among the production workers.