Muscle Stiffness in the Upper Trapezius
Author Information
Author(s): Sasaki Kohei, Miyamoto Naokazu
Primary Institution: Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan
Hypothesis
The passive stiffness of both the anterior and posterior parts of the upper trapezius is not uniformly distributed along the fascial direction.
Conclusion
The study found that muscle stiffness in the anterior part of the upper trapezius is non-uniformly distributed, while the posterior part shows a uniform distribution.
Supporting Evidence
- Muscle stiffness was significantly higher at the proximal and distal sites of the anterior part compared to the central site.
- There were no significant differences in stiffness between the anterior and posterior parts.
Takeaway
This study looked at how stiff muscles in the upper back are in different areas, finding that the front part is stiffer in some spots than others, while the back part is more even.
Methodology
Seventeen healthy young males had their upper trapezius muscle stiffness measured using ultrasound shear wave elastography at different sites.
Limitations
The study only included healthy subjects without latent MTrP, and results may not apply to individuals with active or latent MTrP.
Participant Demographics
Seventeen healthy young males, average age 22 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website