THE EFFECT OF PAIN REDUCTION ON PERCEIVED TENSION AND EMG-RECORDED TRAPEZIUS MUSCLE-ACTIVITY IN WORKERS WITH SHOULDER AND NECK PAIN

The study was initiated to evaluate the effect of pain-reducing therap ies on factors previously associated with work-related shoulder and ne ck pain, namely increased muscle activity in the upper trapezius and p erceived general tension, Thirty-three women in three groups were asse ssed before and after an intervention period and by questionnaire 6 mo nths later, The purpose of this study was primarily to investigate ass ociations between upper trapezius muscle activity, perceived general t ension and pain, and secondly, to compare effects of individually base d physiotherapy and group exercise for workers with shoulder and neck myalgia, All three groups reported a significant alleviation of pain a nd perceived general tension,,while the electromyographically (EMG) re corded upper trapezius muscle activity level remained unchanged or inc reased, Improvements were similar in all three treatment groups, but i ndividual-based therapies were rated more beneficial on subjective mea sures, Significant correlation was found between pain and perceived ge neral tension (r = 0.66, p < 0.01), while there was no correlation bet ween pain or perceived general tension and recorded muscle activity.