Alterations in Central Control of Shoulder Muscles in Office Workers With Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain

Summary

Non-specific chronic neck pain (NCNP) is commonly seen in office workers. Individuals with NCNP not only demonstrate impaired neck movement control and muscle activation, but also show abnormal scapular kinematics and muscle activation timing. Office workers with NCNP also show higher activity of upper trapezius during computer typing and have difficulty relaxing upper trapezius after typing. These changes related to scapula may increase strain over neck. In addition to the altered neuromuscular control, recent studies found neuroplasticity changes in the central nervous system on patients of chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, few studies found shifts and alterations of motor cortex representation of neck muscles in individuals with NCNP, which was correlated with delayed muscle activation of deep neck flexors muscle in functional activities. However, no studies have explored that whether this corticospinal adaptation also happens over scapular muscles, especially after a computer typing task. The objectives of this proposal are to investigate the differences in corticospinal and neuromuscular control of shoulder complex between office workers with and without NCNP. Thirty-five individuals with NCNP and 35 healthy controls will be recruited. Twenty young healthy subjects will be also recruited for a pilot study to test the reliability of all the measures. Scapular kinematics and muscle activation will be tested during arm elevation. Corticospinal parameters of trapezius and serratus anterior will be tested with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), including active motor threshold, motor evoked potential, cortical silent period, short interval intracortical facilitation, short interval intracortical inhibition and cortical mapping. Corticospinal parameters, except cortical mapping, will be measured again after a 30-minute computer typing task. Scapular muscle activation will be also recorded during the typing task.

Conditions

• Non-specific Chronic Neck Pain
• Office Workers
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
• Neuromuscular Control

Interventions

OTHER

30-minute computer typing task

The subject sits in front of a computer screen and perform computer typing tasks for 30 minutes. The same computer table and chair were used for all subjects. The height of the table and screen, and the distance of the keyboard from the subject were adjusted according to their familiar and comfortable position.

OTHER

30-minute rest

Rest for 30 minutes

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Yin-Liang Lin, PhD · National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

20 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-12-21

Primary Completion

2022-05-13

Completion

2022-05-13

Countries

• Taiwan

Study Locations