• adolescent health
• determinants of health
• mental health
• physical health
• social working conditions
• vocational education

• Cervical extensor muscles
• Motor activity
• Neck muscles
• Neck pain
• Neuromuscular adaptations

• Humans
• Neck Pain/physiopathology
• Neck Muscles/physiopathology
• Adult
• Female
• Electromyography
• Male

• dry needling
• electromyography
• myofascial trigger point
• neck pain

• Humans
• Female
• Male
• Adult
• Post-Traumatic Headache/therapy
• Post-Traumatic Headache/physiopathology
• Superficial Back Muscles/physiopathology
• Trigger Points/physiopathology
• Double-Blind Method
• Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy/methods
• Pain Measurement
• Electromyography
• Young Adult
• Treatment Outcome
• Physical Therapy Modalities

• Virtual environments
• biomechanics
• human-computer interaction
• interface evaluation
• wearable devices

• Humans
• Neck Pain/physiopathology
• Male
• Female
• Electromyography
• Adult
• Superficial Back Muscles/physiopathology
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Middle Aged
• Rest/physiology
• Occupational Diseases/physiopathology
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Longitudinal Studies

• Nordisk Ministerråd

• Chronic neck pain
• Nocturnal activity
• Sleep disturbance
• Sleep stages
• Upper trapezius

• Humans
• Superficial Back Muscles
• Healthy Volunteers
• Neck Pain/diagnosis
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Sleep/physiology
• Electromyography
• Sleep Wake Disorders/diagnosis

• Biomechanics
• Head-mounted display
• Human-computer interaction
• Musculoskeletal problems
• Wearable device

• Humans
• Shoulder/physiology
• Augmented Reality
• Neck
• Neck Muscles
• Movement
• Biomechanical Phenomena
• Electromyography

• computer progressive addition lenses
• computer work
• general purpose progressive addition lenses
• surface electromyography
• visual display unit

• 3-dimensional motion capture
• Computer-human interaction
• Musculoskeletal discomfort
• Passive exoskeletons

• Humans
• Muscle, Skeletal/physiology
• Exoskeleton Device
• Electromyography
• Augmented Reality
• Upper Extremity/physiology
• Shoulder/physiology
• Superficial Back Muscles
• Biomechanical Phenomena

• Musculoskeletal pain
• muscle strength
• nociception
• proprioception
• range of motion

• Humans
• Female
• Adult
• Middle Aged
• Male
• Shoulder
• Neck
• Upper Extremity
• Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology
• Microcomputers
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Prevalence
• Occupational Diseases/epidemiology
• Risk Factors

• Inclinometry
• Muscle activity
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Rationalization
• Surgical ergonomics
• Task-based analysis

• Humans
• Robotic Surgical Procedures/adverse effects
• Workload
• Ergonomics
• Surgeons
• Posture/physiology
• Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology

• AFA Försäkring
• China Scholarship Council
• Karolinska Institute

• myofascial release
• neck disability index
• stretching exercises
• tens
• trapezius myalgia

Accumulation of uric acid (UA) during muscular trauma is a factor involved in the development of muscle hyperalgesia. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), DNA-based reticular structures to capture UA, play a central role in the pain onset of gout attacks; however, the involvement of NETs via the elevation of local UA level in muscle hyperalgesia due to injuries from muscle overuse remains unknown. The triceps surae muscles (TSMs) in the unilateral hindlimb of mice were electrically stimulated to induce excessive muscle contraction. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds, tissue UA levels, neutrophil recruitment, and protein amount of citrullinated histone 3 (citH3), a major marker of NETs, were investigated. Furthermore, whether neutrophil depletion, extracellular DNA cleavage, and administration of the urate-lowering agent febuxostat improved muscle hyperalgesia caused by NET formation was examined. CitH3 expression upon neutrophil recruitment was significantly increased in the stimulated TSMs with increased tissue UA levels, whereas febuxostat administration improved muscle hyperalgesia with decreased citH3 and tissue UA levels, as observed in neutrophil depletion and extracellular DNA digestion. The underlying mechanism of muscle hyperalgesia associated with locally recruited neutrophils forming NETs due to increased tissue UA levels potentially plays a significant role in creating a vicious circle of muscle pain.

• Cervical range of motion
• manual trigger point release
• positional release therapy
• upper trapezius muscle

• Arm support device
• Discomfort score
• Electromyography
• Muscle activity
• Smartphone gaming

• Arm
• Electromyography
• Ergonomics
• Humans
• Muscle, Skeletal
• Shoulder
• Smartphone
• Superficial Back Muscles
• Young Adult

• exposure assessment
• exposure-response relationships
• risk assessment
• technical measurements
• threshold limit values

• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology
• Musculoskeletal Diseases/prevention & control
• Neck
• Occupational Diseases/prevention & control
• Occupational Exposure
• Upper Extremity

• AFA Insurance
• Forskningsrådet för Arbetsliv och Socialvetenskap
• Swedish Research Council
• Medical Faculty of Lund University
• County Councils of Southern Sweden

• Assistive device
• Biomechanics
• Muscle activity
• Work-related musculoskeletal disorder

• Exoskeleton Device
• Humans
• Lower Extremity
• Occupational Health
• Upper Extremity

• Actigraphy
• Compositional data analysis
• Electromyography
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Neck/shoulder load
• Physically demanding work

Persistent bodily fatigue after working days may indicate an imbalance between work demands and capacity of the workers. This study aimed to investigate associations between physical exposures at work and bodily fatigue after work.

Danish workers with physical work (N=5377) answered questions about various physical exposures during work and bodily fatigue after work in the 2010 round of the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study. Associations were modeled using binary logistic regression controlled for various confounders.

Mean age among the younger (<50 years) and older (≥50 years) workers was 36 and 56 years, respectively. Younger and older workers exposed to various physical exposures (e.g. ‘bending/twisting the back’) for more than a quarter of the workday were more fatigued after work. An exposure–response relationship was observed between the number of physical exposures and bodily fatigue, with odds ratios (OR) for fatigue in the body among younger workers being 1.01 (95%CI 0.63–1.63), 1.59 (95%CI 1.01–2.50), 2.37 (95%CI 1.54–3.66) and 2.84 (95%CI 1.85–5.36) for 1, 2, 3 and ≥4 types of combined physical exposures, respectively. Correspondingly, for older workers, ORs were 1.95 (95%CI 1.09–3.51), 4.06 (95%CI 2.32–7.12), 4.10 (95%CI 2.28–7.37) and 4.90 (95%CI 2.72–8.82) for 1, 2, 3 and ≥4 exposures, respectively.

While some of the single factor exposures were associated with increased bodily fatigue, the most marked associations were found when summing the number of different exposures. These results indicate that workplaces should focus on the sum of combined physical exposures rather than focusing solely on single exposures.

• Augmented reality
• Computer-related musculoskeletal disorders
• Electromyography
• Joint angle
• Joint moment
• Usability

• Adult
• Augmented Reality
• Biomechanical Phenomena
• Distance Perception
• Electromyography
• Ergonomics
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Muscle, Skeletal/physiology
• Neck/physiology
• Posture/physiology
• Range of Motion, Articular/physiology
• Shoulder/physiology
• Task Performance and Analysis
• User-Computer Interface

Musculoskeletal pain is common in the general population and constitutes a major public health problem. A large proportion of these conditions may be work related. The aim of this study was to explore the relative importance of physical, psychosocial and personal factors, in number of pain sites and in five specific pain sites, among women in common professions with a broad variety of occupational exposures.

A cohort of 1115 women responded to a questionnaire on ergonomic, psychosocial, personal and life-style factors, and the outcome measure of musculoskeletal pain (based on frequency and intensity of complaints at nine anatomical sites), at baseline and at follow-up. Sum scores of ergonomic and psychosocial factors were created. The importance of exposure at baseline for the number of pain sites at follow-up were estimated using ordinal regression. The importance of exposure at baseline for pain in the neck, shoulders, hands, lower back and feet at follow-up were estimated using multi-exposure Poisson regression models.

High sum scores for ergonomic and psychosocial factors were of importance for a high number of pain sites, although the strongest risk factor was a high number of pain sites already at baseline. On the individual level, there was a large fluctuation in number of pain sites between the two time points. Eighteen percent reported persistent (or recurrent) ≥ four pain sites, while only 11 % did not report any pain at baseline or at follow-up. Among the specific pain sites, a high sum score of ergonomic factors was associated with pain in the neck, hands and feet. A high sum score of psychosocial factors was associated with neck and shoulder pain. The strongest risk factor was, however, pain at that specific anatomical site at baseline. Only a few of the personal and life-style factors were associated with pain.

An overwhelming majority of the women in common occupations were affected by musculoskeletal pain. Both ergonomic and psychosocial factors were predictive of a high number of pain sites and of specific pain sites. These findings indicate the need for preventive measures on the individual, organizational and societal level.

• Longitudinal study
• Multisite pain
• Multivariable model
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Regional pain

Neck pain is common among computer workers who may spend too much time in a static posture facing their display. Regular breaks and variety in one’s posture can help to prevent discomfort and pain. In order to understand how to support computer workers to do so regularly, we surveyed a convenience sample of computer workers (N = 130) regarding their work habits and their attitudes towards neck exercises at the workplace. The survey showed that they are highly motivated, but not able to comply with a neck exercise program. To address this challenge, we designed Neckio, a system that is aimed at encouraging posture variation and facilitating neck exercises at work. Neckio consists in an interactive application and a wireless angulation sensing appliance that can be mounted on the headset that office workers often use for reasons of privacy. Next to providing an interactive exercise program suitable for the workplace, its design places emphasis on an engaging user experience. We report a short-term user experience valuation of Neckio in an actual office environment (N = 10). Participants rated the overall user experience positively and reported to be intrinsically motivated to do the neck exercises. These results indicate the potential of the Neckio as a behavior change support technology to reduce the risk of developing neck pain in computer workers.

• behavior change support technology
• interaction design
• neck health
• neck posture
• therapeutic exercise
• work environment

• Computers
• Exercise Therapy
• Humans
• Neck Pain
• Occupational Diseases
• Workplace

Muscle pain is a common condition in many diseases and is induced by muscle overuse. Muscle overuse induces an increase in uric acid, which stimulates the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR). This receptor contains the pyrin domain NLRP-3 inflammasome which when activated, results in the secretion of potent pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of inflammasome activation via the elevation of uric acid level in nociception in a mouse model of muscle pain. The right hind leg muscles of BALB/c mice were stimulated electrically to induce excessive muscle contraction. The left hind leg muscles were not stimulated as a control. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds, levels of uric acid, IL-1β, and NLRP3, caspase-1 activity, and the number of macrophages were investigated. Furthermore, the effects of xanthine oxidase inhibitors, such as Brilliant Blue G, caspase-1 inhibitor, and clodronate liposome, on pain were investigated. In the stimulated muscles, mechanical withdrawal thresholds decreased, and the levels of uric acid, NLRP3, and IL-1β, caspase-1 activity, and the number of macrophages increased compared to that in the non-stimulated muscles. Administration of the inhibitors attenuated hyperalgesia caused by excessive muscle contraction. These results suggested that IL-1β secretion and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages produced mechanical hyperalgesia by elevating uric acid level, and xanthine oxidase inhibitors may potentially reduce over-exercised muscle pain.

• Muscle pain
• electrical stimulation
• inflammasome
• mechanical hyperalgesia
• uric acid

• Micropauses
• Microscope
• Mini-breaks
• Neck pain
• Work-related musculoskeletal disorders

• Adult
• Cross-Over Studies
• Electromyography/methods
• Female
• Humans
• Interior Design and Furnishings/standards
• Male
• Musculoskeletal Pain/prevention & control
• Neck Pain/prevention & control
• Occupational Diseases/prevention & control
• Posture/physiology
• Prospective Studies
• Shoulder Pain/prevention & control

• Hairdressers
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Prevalence
• Prevention
• Scoping review
• Work-related risk factors

• Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

• Dolor cervical
• Dry needling
• Fisioterapia
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Neck pain
• Physical therapy
• Punción seca
• Síndrome de dolor miofascial

• Electromyography
• Ergonomics
• Robotic-assisted laparoscopy

• Adult
• Electromyography
• Ergonomics
• Female
• Humans
• Interior Design and Furnishings
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Muscle, Skeletal/physiology
• Musculoskeletal Pain/etiology
• Occupational Diseases/etiology
• Physical Exertion
• Pilot Projects
• Robotic Surgical Procedures
• Sitting Position
• Surveys and Questionnaires

• Cytokines
• Hyperalgesia
• Muscle
• Neutrophils
• P2X3 receptors
• Static contraction

• Erroneous signals
• Full-shift sEMG recording
• Low-level muscle force contraction
• Raw data pre-processing
• Trapezius

• Adult
• Anthropometry
• Artifacts
• Data Collection
• Data Interpretation, Statistical
• Electromyography
• Electronic Data Processing
• Finland
• Forestry
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Muscle, Skeletal/physiopathology
• Neck Pain/etiology
• Norway
• Occupational Injuries/etiology
• Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
• Superficial Back Muscles/physiopathology
• Sweden

• Accidents
• Illness
• Injury
• Work
• Youth

Muscle pain is a common condition that relates to various pathologies. Muscle overuse induces muscle pain, and neutrophils are key players in pain production. Neutrophils also play a central role in chronic pain by secreting interleukin (IL)-18. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of neutrophils and IL-18 in a mouse model of muscle pain. The right hind leg muscles of BALB/c mice were stimulated electrically to induce excessive muscle contraction. The left hind leg muscles were not stimulated. The pressure pain threshold, number of neutrophils, and IL-18 levels were investigated. Furthermore, the effects of the IL-18-binding protein and Brilliant Blue G on pain were investigated. In stimulated muscles, pressure pain thresholds decreased, and neutrophil and IL-18 levels increased compared with that in non-stimulated muscles. The administration of IL-18-binding protein and Brilliant Blue G attenuated hyperalgesia caused by excessive muscle contraction. These results suggest that increased IL-18 secretion from larger numbers of neutrophils elicits mechanical hyperalgesia.

• Muscle pain
• electrical stimulation
• interleukin-18
• mechanical hyperalgesia
• neutrophil

• musculoskeletal pain
• otolaryngology
• otological surgical procedures
• posture

More than one third of nurses experience musculoskeletal pain several times during a normal work week. Consistent use of assistive devices during patient transfers is associated with a lower risk of occupational back injuries and low back pain (LBP). While uncertainties exist regarding which type of assistive devices most efficiently prevent LBP, exposure assessments using technological advancements allow for quantification of muscle load and body positions during common work tasks.

The main objectives of this study are (1) to quantify low back and neck/shoulder muscle load in Danish nurses during patient transfers performed with different types of assistive devices, and (2) to combine the exposure profile for each type of assistive device with fortnightly questionnaires to identify the importance of muscle load (intensity and frequency of transfers) and body position (degree of back inclination and frequency) on LBP intensity and risk of back injury during a patient transfer.

A combination of technical measurements (n=50) and a prospective study design (n=2000) will be applied on a cohort of female nurses in Danish hospitals. The technical measurements will be comprised of surface electromyography and accelerometers, with the aim of quantifying muscle load and body positions during various patient transfers, including different types of assistive devices throughout a workday. The study will thereby gather measurements during real-life working conditions. The prospective cohort study will consist of questionnaires at baseline and 1-year follow-up, as well as follow-up via email every other week for one year on questions regarding the frequency of patient transfers, use of assistive devices, intensity of LBP, and back injuries related to patient transfers. The objective measurements on muscle load and body positions during patient handlings will be applied to the fortnightly replies regarding frequency of patient transfer and use of different assistive devices, in order to identify risk factors for back injuries related to patient transfers and intensity of LBP.

Data collection is scheduled to commence during the winter of 2017.

The design of this study is novel in its combination of technical measurements applied on a prospective cohort, and the results will provide important information about which assistive devices are associated with intensity of LBP and risk of back injury related to patient transfers. Furthermore, this study will shed light on the dose-response relationship between intensity, duration, and frequency of patient transfers and the intensity of LPB in Danish nurses, and will thereby help to guide and improve electronic health practices among this population.

• assistive devices
• electromyography
• hospital
• low back pain
• nurse
• pain

• hyperalgesia
• inflammation
• mediators
• muscle
• static contraction

[Purpose] To assess the effects of forearm support and shoulder posture on upper trapezius and anterior deltoid activity. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-three female university students were evaluated. Muscle activity was assessed by a portable surface electromyography (sEMG) system (Myomonitor IV, Delsys, USA). Upper trapezius and anterior deltoid activity were recorded in five shoulder flexion postures: 0°, 15°, 30°, 45° and 60° and in two conditions: with the forearm supported and unsupported. Descriptive data analysis was performed and statistical analysis was conducted by a multivariate analysis of variance with three repeated factors (posture, support and side). [Results] Three-way interactions were not significant. Two-way interaction was significant for support and posture for both muscles, indicating that the muscular activity depends on the forearm support and shoulder posture. The forearm support reduced upper trapezius and anterior deltoid activity for all shoulder flexion angles. The mean and standard deviation for this decrease was 7.8 (SD=4.6)% of the maximal voluntary contraction for anterior deltoid and 3.8 (SD=2.0)% of the maximal voluntary contraction for upper trapezius. In the unsupported condition, increasing the shoulder flexion angle caused an increase in the upper trapezius and anterior deltoid activation. [Conclusion] These results highlight the importance of using forearm support and to maintain neutral shoulder posture, when the upper arms are not supported, to reduce muscle activation. Thus, this study provides evidence about the effect of these recommendations to reduce muscular activity.

• Biomechanics
• Ergonomics
• Physical therapy

• construction
• ergonomics
• welding

• Adult
• Air Pollutants, Occupational
• Biomechanical Phenomena
• Ergonomics
• Gases/analysis
• Humans
• Inhalation Exposure/analysis
• Middle Aged
• Occupational Exposure/prevention & control
• Particle Size
• Welding/methods

• P30 ES005605 NIEHS NIH HHS
• U60 OH009762 NIOSH CDC HHS
• U60OH009762 ACL HHS
• U60-OH009762 NIOSH CDC HHS

• Neck pain
• chronic
• prospective
• risk factors

• Inclinometer
• Mechanical workload
• Musculoskeletal disorders

• Barbering
• Construction Industry
• Female
• Humans
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Occupational Diseases/etiology
• Posture
• Risk Factors
• Sex Factors
• Shoulder Pain/etiology
• Students
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Upper Extremity
• Young Adult

Purpose. This study investigates the acute and longitudinal effects of resistance training on occupational muscle activity in office workers with chronic pain. Methods. 30 female office workers with chronic neck and shoulder pain participated for 10 weeks in high-intensity elastic resistance training for 2 minutes per day (n = 15) or in control receiving weekly email-based information on general health (n = 15). Electromyography (EMG) from the splenius and upper trapezius was recorded during a normal workday. Results. Adherence to training and control interventions were 86% and 89%, respectively. Compared with control, training increased isometric muscle strength 6% (P < 0.05) and decreased neck/shoulder pain intensity by 40% (P < 0.01). The frequency of periods with complete motor unit relaxation (EMG gaps) decreased acutely in the hours after training. By contrast, at 10-week follow-up, training increased average duration of EMG gaps by 71%, EMG gap frequency by 296% and percentage time below 0.5%, and 1.0% EMGmax by 578% and 242%, respectively, during the workday in m. splenius. Conclusion. While resistance training acutely generates a more tense muscle activity pattern, the longitudinal changes are beneficial in terms of longer and more frequent periods of complete muscular relaxation and reduced pain.

AIM: To investigate the acute effects of stochastic resonance whole body vibration (SR-WBV) training to identify possible explanations for preventive effects against musculoskeletal disorders.

METHODS: Twenty-three healthy, female students participated in this quasi-experimental pilot study. Acute physiological and psychological effects of SR-WBV training were examined using electromyography of descending trapezius (TD) muscle, heart rate variability (HRV), different skin parameters (temperature, redness and blood flow) and self-report questionnaires. All subjects conducted a sham SR-WBV training at a low intensity (2 Hz with noise level 0) and a verum SR-WBV training at a higher intensity (6 Hz with noise level 4). They were tested before, during and after the training. Conclusions were drawn on the basis of analysis of variance.

RESULTS: Twenty-three healthy, female students participated in this study (age = 22.4 ± 2.1 years; body mass index = 21.6 ± 2.2 kg/m²). Muscular activity of the TD and energy expenditure rose during verum SR-WBV compared to baseline and sham SR-WBV (all P < 0.05). Muscular relaxation after verum SR-WBV was higher than at baseline and after sham SR-WBV (all P < 0.05). During verum SR-WBV the levels of HRV were similar to those observed during sham SR-WBV. The same applies for most of the skin characteristics, while microcirculation of the skin of the middle back was higher during verum compared to sham SR-WBV (P < 0.001). Skin redness showed significant changes over the three measurement points only in the middle back area (P = 0.022). There was a significant rise from baseline to verum SR-WBV (0.86 ± 0.25 perfusion units; P = 0.008). The self-reported chronic pain grade indicators of pain, stiffness, well-being, and muscle relaxation showed a mixed pattern across conditions. Muscle and joint stiffness (P = 0.018) and muscular relaxation did significantly change from baseline to different conditions of SR-WBV (P < 0.001). Moreover, muscle relaxation after verum SR-WBV was higher than after sham SR-WBV (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Verum SR-WBV stimulated musculoskeletal activity in young healthy individuals while cardiovascular activation was low. Training of musculoskeletal capacity and immediate increase in musculoskeletal relaxation are potential mediators of pain reduction in preventive trials.

• Musculoskeletal system
• Electromyography
• Quasi-experimental study
• Prevention
• Relaxation