Effect of gender and normalization of sEMG on the activation of trapezius and serratus muscles during repetitive working task

• Grant number: 16/22386-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2017
• End date: June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Ana Beatriz de Oliveira
• Grantee: Ana Beatriz de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The research aims at investigating whether there are gender difference regarding motor variability in two conditions: 1. during the performance of a repetitive task and 2. after muscle fatigue induction (Study 1) as well to evaluate the effect of four methods of surface electromyography data (sEMG) normalization performed from maximal, submaximal and two types of reference contractions of trapezius and serratus anterior muscles in gender difference (Study 2). It will be evaluated 18 men and 18 women, asymptomatic for neck and shoulder pain. The four portions of the trapezius muscle and serratus anterior will be evaluated on the dominant side by sEMG. The record will be performed during the simulation of a highly repetitive industrial activity performed in sitting position. In Study 1, the task will be performed until muscle fatigue induction, in accordance with criteria described in the literature. In Study 2, the same task will be continuously performed during 4 minutes, and the electromyographic signal obtained will be normalized from 4 methods considering different natures of voluntary contractions. The electromyographic signal will be processed using the Matlab software (v8.0, The Mathworks Inc., Natick, MA, USA). The RMS values, the median frequency and the slope of these variables will be calculated to evaluate gender difference in the muscle activity pattern. In addition, the motor variability will be evaluated from variation coefficient of RMS values. In Study 1, the normalized mutual information of muscles pairs investigated will also be considered to analysis. In Study 2, the APDF (Amplitude Probability Distribution Function) will be considered for the RMS values obtained during the task performance. For this, it will be considered the percentiles 10, 50 and 90. The understanding of the physiological mechanisms related to muscle activity pattern, considering gender, possibly will contribute to greater success on interventions that seek to prevent and control musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck and shoulder regions. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CID, MARINA MACHADO; OLIVEIRA, ANA BEATRIZ; JANUARIO, LETICIA BERGAMIN; COTE, JULIE N.; CARREIRA MOREIRA, ROBERTA DE FATIMA; MADELEINE, PASCAL. Are there sex differences in muscle coordination of the upper girdle during a sustained motor task?. JOURNAL OF ELECTROMYOGRAPHY AND KINESIOLOGY, v. 45, p. 1-10, APR 2019. (16/22386-6)

CID, MARINA MACHADO; JANUARIO, LETICIA BERGAMIN; CARREIRA MOREIRA, ROBERTA DE FATIMA; COTE, JULIE N.; MADELEINE, PASCAL; OLIVEIRA, ANA BEATRIZ. Does sEMG normalization change results on sex differences in the activation of the shoulder girdle muscles during a simulated work task?. APPLIED ERGONOMICS, v. 85, MAY 2020. (16/22386-6)

CID, MARINA MACHADO; COTE, JULIE N.; ZANCANARO, LUCAS LEONARDO; OLIVEIRA, ANA BEATRIZ. Sex differences in postures of the upper body during a simulated work task performed above shoulder level. JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS, v. 107, JUN 23 2020. (16/22386-6)