Axioscapular and neck extensor muscle behavior during isometric shoulder exertions in patients with nonspecific neck pain with and without a scapular downward rotation posture

Nipaporn Wannaprom; Gwendolen Jull; Julia Treleaven; Martin B Warner; Sureeporn Uthaikhup

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.01.010

Axioscapular and neck extensor muscle behavior during isometric shoulder exertions in patients with nonspecific neck pain with and without a scapular downward rotation posture

Gait Posture. 2023 Mar:101:41-47. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.01.010. Epub 2023 Jan 16.

Authors

Nipaporn Wannaprom¹, Gwendolen Jull², Julia Treleaven², Martin B Warner³, Sureeporn Uthaikhup⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
² Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia.
³ School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
⁴ Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Electronic address: sureeporn.uthaikhup@cmu.ac.th.

PMID: 36724655
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.01.010

Abstract

Background: A common observation in persons with neck pain is scapular downward rotation (SDR) with altered muscle behavior. Evidence of changes in axioscapular muscles in neck pain patients remains inconclusive, which may reflect population heterogeneity in previous studies.

Research question: Are there differences in behavior of the axioscapular (upper trapezius: UT, lower trapezius: LT and serratus anterior: SA) and neck extensor (NE) muscles during isometric shoulder tasks in patients with neck pain with SDR, patients with no scapular dysfunction and healthy controls?

Methods: Sixty participants with nonspecific neck pain (30 with SDR and 30 without scapular dysfunction) and 30 controls were recruited. Electromyographic signals were recorded unilaterally from the UT, LT, SA and NE during different isometric shoulder tasks (30° flexion, 30°abduction and 30°external rotation) at 20%, 50% and 100% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Activity of UT, LT, SA and NE was normalized with respect to reference contractions. The UT/LT, UT/SA and LT/SA ratios were calculated for each task.

Results: The neck pain group with SDR had increased UT activity in 30°flexion (20%MVC) and 30°abduction (20% and 50%MVC) compared to the neck pain and control groups without scapular dysfunction (p < 0.05). There were no between group differences in LT and SA activity (p > 0.05). The neck pain groups had greater NE activity in all tasks (p < 0.001). Finally, the neck pain group with SDR had higher UT/LT and UT/SA ratios in a few tasks at low force levels (p ≤ 0.01).

Significance: Greater UT activity and UT/LT and UT/SA ratios during particularly low force isometric shoulder tasks suggest that SDR is associated with altered axioscapular motor control. Greater NE activity in both neck pain groups suggests altered motor control related to neck pain. Changes in the NE and UT behavior should be considered in management of patients with neck pain with observable SDR.

Keywords: Electromyography; Isometric contraction; Muscle activity; Neck pain; Scapula.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Electromyography / methods
Humans
Isometric Contraction
Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
Neck Pain
Physical Exertion
Posture
Shoulder* / physiology
Superficial Back Muscles* / physiology