Effects of overhead work involving different heights and distances on neck and shoulder muscle activity
- PMID: 24939113
- DOI: 10.3233/WOR-141867
Effects of overhead work involving different heights and distances on neck and shoulder muscle activity
Abstract
Background: Although overhead work is closely related to musculoskeletal disorders, it is difficult to avoid these postures in daily working conditions. In industrial tasks that require elevated arm postures above shoulder height, flexibility in the location of the task is necessary.
Objective: This study investigated the sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and anterior deltoid, serratus anterior muscle activities during overhead work involving four different height and distance locations performed by healthy adult participants.
Methods: Eighteen young male right-hand-dominant workers were recruited. The right upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, anterior deltoid, and sternocleidomastoid muscle activities were measured under for overhead work condition (Location 1: overhead work with a height of 10 cm above the head of each subject and distance of 15 cm, Location 2: overhead work with a height of 10 cm above the head of each subject and distance of 30 cm, Location 3: overhead work with a height of 20 cm above the head of each subject and distance of 15 cm, Location 4: overhead work with a height of 20 cm above the head of each subject and distance of 30 cm).
Results: In Location 3, there was significantly higher neck extension range of motion compared to Location 1, Location 2 and Location 4. In Location 1, the activities of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, anterior deltoid, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were significantly lower than those in Location 3 (p<0.05). In Location 2, the activities of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, anterior deltoid, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were significantly lower than those in Location 4 (p<0.05). In Location 1, there were significantly lower upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and anterior deltoid muscle activities than in Location 2 (p<0.05). In Location 3, there were significantly lower upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and anterior deltoid muscle activities than in Location 4 (p<0.05). In Location 1, there was significantly higher sternocleidomastoid muscle activity than in Location 2 (p<0.05). Finally, In Location 3, there was significantly higher sternocleidomastoid muscle activity than in Location 4 (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Overhead workers should engage in work that involves a low height and near distance. Height appears to be a stronger risk factor than distance in overhead work.
Keywords: Cervical pain; electromyography; overhead work; shoulder pain.
Similar articles
-
Effect of workstation height and distance on upper extremity muscle activity during repetitive below-the-knee assembly work.J Occup Health. 2015;57(2):193-6. doi: 10.1539/joh.14-0168-BR. Epub 2015 Jan 10. J Occup Health. 2015. PMID: 25735509
-
Serratus anterior and lower trapezius muscle activities during multi-joint isotonic scapular exercises and isometric contractions.J Athl Train. 2015 Feb;50(2):199-210. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-49.3.80. J Athl Train. 2015. PMID: 25689561 Free PMC article.
-
Effects of scapular retraction/protraction position and scapular elevation on shoulder girdle muscle activity during glenohumeral abduction.Hum Mov Sci. 2019 Apr;64:55-66. doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2019.01.005. Epub 2019 Jan 16. Hum Mov Sci. 2019. PMID: 30660072
-
Alterations in shoulder kinematics and associated muscle activity in people with symptoms of shoulder impingement.Phys Ther. 2000 Mar;80(3):276-91. Phys Ther. 2000. PMID: 10696154 Review.
-
Kinesiologic considerations for targeting activation of scapulothoracic muscles - part 2: trapezius.Braz J Phys Ther. 2019 Nov-Dec;23(6):467-475. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2019.01.011. Epub 2019 Feb 3. Braz J Phys Ther. 2019. PMID: 30797676 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
Effects of a Traction Device for Head Weight Reduction and Neutral Alignment during Sedentary Visual Display Terminal (VDT) Work on Postural Alignment, Muscle Properties, Hemodynamics, Preference, and Working Memory Performance.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 31;19(21):14254. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192114254. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022. PMID: 36361134 Free PMC article.
-
Electromyographic analysis of an ergonomic risk factor: overhead work.J Phys Ther Sci. 2016 Jun;28(6):1924-7. doi: 10.1589/jpts.28.1924. Epub 2016 Jun 28. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016. PMID: 27390448 Free PMC article.
-
Changes in upper-extremity muscle activities due to head position in subjects with a forward head posture and rounded shoulders.J Phys Ther Sci. 2015 Jun;27(6):1739-42. doi: 10.1589/jpts.27.1739. Epub 2015 Jun 30. J Phys Ther Sci. 2015. PMID: 26180310 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical