Effect of Stress on Cervical muscle activity

Authors

Affiliations

Nathaniel Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Article

Shahidi et al. (2013) Differential effects of mental concentration and acute psychosocial stress on cervical muscle activity and posture¹

Article question

Does a psychological stressor affect cervical muscle activity and posture?

Study construct

• Population:

  • 60 healthy office workers
  • Higher proportion of women d/t a higher incidence of female office workers developing pain
  • No hx of neck pain in previous year
  • Worked at least 30 h a week, 75% of workday at the computer

• Electromyography

• Muscles observed:

  • Upper trapezius
  • Cervical extensors
  • Sternocleidomastoid

• Seated posture

• Low stress (LS) condition + mental concentration

• High stress (HS) condition + mental concentration and psychosocial stress

• Constant variables:

  • Asked to do a Psychomotor task:
    • operation span (OpSpan) test: complex arithmetic problems while memorizing and selecting lists of 2-8 words in sequential order using a computer mouse with their dominant arm.

• Intervention: Repeated under low and high stress conditions with a 15 min rest break

• Dependent variable:

  • Task performance scored 0-40, higher = better accuracy
  • Seated posture
  • Low stress (LS) condition + mental concentration
  • High stress (HS) condition + mental concentration and psychosocial stress

Statistical analysis

Demographic characteristics of participants in the experimental and control sessions were compared using independent t-tests for continuous variables and chi-squared tests for categorical variables¹.

Cervical angle, RPP, and STAI-State scores were analyzed using a one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare baseline, LS, and HS conditions¹. Post hoc comparisons using Tukey’s HSD procedure were performed for outcomes with significant main effects¹.

Paired T-Tests were used to compare the ormalized activity of UT, CE, and SCM muscles across the two stress conditions¹.

Pearson’s correlation coefficients were used to assess the association between change in muscle activity, cervical angle, and task duration between test conditions¹.

References

1.

Shahidi B, Haight A, Maluf K. Differential effects of mental concentration and acute psychosocial stress on cervical muscle activity and posture. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology: Official Journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology. 2013;23(5):1082-1089. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2013.05.009