european college of sport science

OP-PT01 Physiotherapy
and scapular position (Selkowitz et al. 2007, Hsu et al. 2009). The aim of this study is to explore the electromyographic activity of upper
trapezius following the application of tape in patients with suspected subacromial impingement and anterior glenohumeral subluxation.
Methods: 9 women (mean age:34,7) with suspected subacromial impingement, 4 of which had co-existent anterior subluxation, and 7
healthy females (mean age:22) who served as controls, volunteered to participate in this pilot. Subjects were requested to perform abduction
in the scapular plane with and without the application of tape. Abduction was performed without a weight and with a 1,5 kg
weight on the affected hand. Two taping techniques were utilised, ‘relocation of head of humerus’ and ‘inhibition of the upper trapezius
muscle’ (McConnell, 1994). Bipolar surface electrodes (Ag/AgCl, 4-cm diameter, 25-mm interelectrode distance) were applied over upper
trapezius. Changes in frequency (F) and root mean square (RMS) of the power spectrum were calculated using the Viking-Quest equipment
(Nicolet Inc.). F (frequency domain) and RMS (time domain) are the considered parameters describing motor unit activation patterns.
Total time of the effort during EMG measurement was also analyzed. 5 measurements were provided for each test. Changes within
groups were examined by utilising paired t tests for parametric and Wilcoxon signed rank tests for nonparametric data.
Results: For abduction mean RMS was highly statistically significant (p=0.01). Lower values were found with the tape application
(115.3±35.3) than without tape (212.7±30.4). Results for abduction with the weight also yielded statistically significant results (p=0.02) with
again, lower values with (177.5±35.3) compared to without the tape (297.3±37.4). In the control group, no significant decrease in the
activation of motor units was yielded following the tape. The results suggest that in our patients upper trapezius, when taped, significantly
decreased its activation.
Conclusions
These preliminary findings provide some evidence that taping facilitates the inhibition of potentially overactive upper trapezius muscle in
patients with subacromial impingement and anterior glenohumeral subluxation.
References
Hsu YH, Chen WY, Lin HC, Wang WTJ, Shih YF. (2009). J Electromyogr Kinesiol, in press.
Ludewig PM, Hoff MS, Osowski EE, Meschke SA, Rundquist PJ. (2004). Am J Sports Med, 32, 484-493.
McConnell J. (1994). Course notes, McConnell Institute.
Selkowitz DM, Chaney C, Stuckey SJ, Vlad G (2007). J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, 37(11), 694-702.
SCAPULATHORACIC MUSCLE ACTIVITY DURING PUSH UP EXERCISE ON AN UNSTABLE VIBRATING SUPPORT SURFACE
MORK, P.J., SANDVIKMOEN, T.E., SEILER, S.
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Introduction: The Redcord ’Neurac’ approach is frequently used by clinicians for treatment of neck/shoulder pain. It is hypothesized that
application of high frequency vibration to the slings improves the success rate in treating neck/shoulder patients by facilitating activation
of pain inhibited muscles. At present, it is not clear whether vibration applied to the slings acts to increase activation of scapulathoracic
muscles. The aim of this study was to determine whether push-up exercises performed in slings (with and without vibration) induce
elevated surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity of scapulathoracic muscles compared to push up exercise performed on a stable
surface.
Methods: Eight subjects (7 males, 1 female; mean age 28 yrs, SD 7 yrs) were recruited from a convenience sample of university students
and faculty. Bilateral sEMG was recorded (Myomonitor III, Delsys, US) from upper, transverse, and lower trapezius, serratus anterior,
infraspinatus, pectoralis major and anterior deltoid while maintaining a regular push up position and a push up plus position with: 1)
hands placed on a bench, 2) hands placed in slings, and 3) hands placed in slings with a 25 Hz vibration applied to the sling ropes. All
exercise positions were maintained for ~20 sec (i.e., isometric contraction) while keeping the elbow joint in an extended position. Subjects
rested 2 min between each exercise. All sEMG measurements was normalized by the highest root-mean-square detected sEMG response
(EMGmax) obtained during maximal voluntary contractions. Median sEMG level (%EMGmax) was used to quantify sEMG activity.
Results: Pectoralis major was the only muscle displaying significantly higher sEMG activity during sling exercise compared to bench
exercise (median sEMG level ~20-30% vs. 5-15% EMGmax). Overall there was no difference in sEMG activity between exercises performed
with sling vibration compared to exercise performed without vibration. Push-up plus induced significantly higher sEMG activity
during all exercise conditions compared to regular push-up for all muscles except anterior deltoid.
Discussion: Additional vibration to the slings did not increase scapulathoracic muscle activity under isometric, sub-maximal contraction
conditions. Moreover, all muscles except pectoralis major showed similar sEMG level during sling exercise versus exercise on a stable
surface. Our findings are consistent with previous studies showing no difference in scapulathoracic muscle activity when performing
push-up exercises on stable versus unstable surface (e.g. Lehman et al 2008). Further studies are needed to elucidate why vibration
applied to the slings seems clinically effective in reducing symptoms among neck/shoulder patients.
References
Lehman GJ, Gilas D, Patel U (2008). Man Ther, 13, 500-506.
INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY AS A METHOD FOR MONITORING AND PREVENTING INJURIES IN SOCCER
NOYA, J., SILLERO, M., GÓMEZ, P.M., PASTRANO, R.
UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE MADRID
Introduction: Infrared thermography is considered as a valid and non-invasive diagnostic method [1] of different pathologies [2], including
some musculo-skeletal problems as the lumbar pain [3]. Modern equipments make possible very accurate and objective recording of
the body surface with a single picture. Recently, thermography has been purposed as a method not only for diagnosing but also for
monitoring rehabilitation processes [4].
Methods: We recorded the body temperature of 23 professional players of the C.D. Toledo S.A.D. (Age= 24,9; SD= ± 3,5) on 24 days of its
2-months precompetitive period. Two thermographic pictures for each player (frontal and dorsal, of the trunk and lower limbs) were
taken with a ThermaCAM TM SC640 (FLIR SYSTEMS, Portland) before starting the training season. Mean temperature of the muscular
groups: abdominal (AB), quadriceps (Q,R&L), adductors (AB,R&L), anterior leg (AL,R&L), lumbar (L), hamstrings (H,R&L) and calves (C,R&L)
and the joints: anterior knees (AK,R&L), posterior knees (PK,R&L), and ankles (A,R&L) were calculated from the pictures by the software
’ThermaCAM Reporter’. Additionally, the level of nuisance of those areas was assessed every day by the player from 1 (no pain) to 10
(injured). Temperatures were compared with the declared level of nuisance considering three groups (1 = No pain; 2 - 3 = Low pain; > 4 =
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