Elert J, Brulin C, Gerdle B, Johansson H, et al.
Scandinavian journal of rehabilitation medicine. Date of publication 1992 Sep 1;volume 24(3):141-50.
1. Scand J Rehabil Med. 1992 Sep;24(3):141-50.
Mechanical performance, level of continuous contraction and muscle pain symptoms
in home care personnel.
Elert J(1), Brulin C, Gerdle B, Johansson H.
Author information:
(1)National Institute of Occupational Health, Umeå, Sweden.
The interrelationships between reported complaints, clinical status, mechanical
performance and EMG pattern of the shoulder flexors and the knee extensors,
respectively, during maximum dynamic contractions were investigated. A group of
97 randomly selected women employed in the home care service participated. Those
who reported complaints had more clinical findings, such as reduced mobility,
tender points and muscle tightness, than non-complainers. The level of muscle
activity during the passive part of the contraction cycle was significantly
higher in the shoulder flexors than in the knee extensors. Subjects without
reported complaints who had been employed for more than ten years had a
significantly lower activity level in the shoulder muscles than subjects without
complaints who had been employed for a shorter time. We suggest that a high
muscle tension level between contractions might precede muscle pain. A cluster
analysis including sociodemographic, clinical and physiological variables
revealed different subgroups, which points to the need to investigate the work
situation in a multivariate way.
PMID: 1411360 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
