Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology
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J Electromyogr Kinesiol · Feb 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparison of surface electromyographic activity of erector spinae before and after the application of central posteroanterior mobilisation on the lumbar spine.
Lumbar spine accessory movements, used by therapists in the treatment of patients with low back pain, is thought to decrease paravertebral muscular activity; however there is little research to support this suggestion. This study investigated the effects of lumbar spine accessory movements on surface electromyography (sEMG) activity of erector spinae. A condition randomised, placebo controlled, repeated measures design was used. sEMG measurements were recorded from 36 asymptomatic subjects following a control, placebo and central posteroanterior (PA) mobilisation to L3 each for 2min. ⋯ Surface electromyographic data were recorded from the musculature adjacent to L3, L5 and T10. There were statistically significant reductions of 15.5% (95% CI: 8.0-22.5%) and 17.8% (95% CI: 12.9-22.4%) in mean sEMG values following mobilisation compared with the control and placebo, respectively. This study demonstrates that a central PA mobilisation to L3 results in a statistically significant decrease in the sEMG activity of erector spinae of an asymptomatic population.
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J Electromyogr Kinesiol · Dec 2005
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of postural correction on muscle activation amplitudes recorded from the cervicobrachial region.
In clinical practice, postural correction is a common treatment approach for individuals with neck and shoulder pain. As chronic static muscle use is thought to be associated with the onset of some neck and shoulder pain syndromes, it is important to understand the impact a postural correction program might have on muscle activation amplitudes in the neck and shoulder regions. Normalized surface electromyographic data were recorded from the levator scapulae, upper trapezius, supraspinatus, posterior deltoid, masseter, rhomboid major, cervical erector spinae, and sternocleidomastoid muscles of the dominant side of each of eighteen healthy subjects. ⋯ Corrected posture in sitting did, however produce a statistically significant reduction in muscle activity compared to forward head posture. Corrected posture in standing required more muscle activity than habitual or forward head posture in the majority of cervicobrachial and jaw muscles, suggesting that a graduated approach to postural correction exercises might be required in order to train the muscles to appropriately withstand the requirements of the task. A surprising finding was that muscle activity levels and postural changes had the largest impact on the masseter muscle, which demonstrated activation levels in the order of 20% maximum voluntary electrical activation.