Vocational muscle activity and perceived muscle tension in young adults

Abstract

Purpose: To study the association between muscle rest of vocational electromyographic (EMG) recordings and perceived muscle tension, and whether this association is modified by limiting the EMG measure to pauses from active work. Methods: A muscle rest measure was calculated in a whole workday EMG recording of the upper trapezius muscles, as well as during pauses from active work in 19 males and 23 females (mean age 22 years, range 20–25). Self-reports on muscle tension habits and the covariates neck and shoulder pain, perceived stress level, and leisure time physical activity were collected in a questionnaire. Results: The muscle rest measure showed a moderate negative correlation with the subjects’ perceived muscle tension. This association became somewhat stronger and statistically significant when the EMG measure was restricted to the pauses from active work. Conclusions: Perceived muscle tension is associated to trapezius EMG muscle rest during pauses from active work.

Key words::

• EMG
• self-report
• workers

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry's Working Environment Fund, and in part also from the Swedish Council for Work Life and Social Research, AFA Insurance, Lund University Medical Faculty, and the County Councils of Southern Sweden. We want to thank Ada Ingvaldsen, Birgitta Jarmark, Einar Jebens and Jorid Thrane Stuenæs for helping with the data collection.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.