Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Muscle oxygenation and glycolysis in females with trapezius myalgia during stress and repetitive work using microdialysis and NIRS

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to study female workers active in the labour market for differences between those with trapezius myalgia (MYA) and without (CON) during repetitive pegboard (PEG) and stress (STR) tasks regarding (1) relative muscle load, (2) trapezius muscle blood flow, (3) metabolite accumulation, (4) oxygenation, and (5) pain development. Among 812 female employees (age 30–60 years) at 7 companies with high prevalence of neck/shoulder complaints, clinical examination identified 43 MYA and 19 CON. At rest, during PEG, and STR the trapezius muscle was measured using (1) EMG and MMG, (2) microdialysis, and (3) NIRS. Further, subjective pain ratings were scored (VAS). EMGrms in %MVE (Maximal Voluntary EMG-activity), was significantly higher among MYA than CON during PEG (11.74 ± 9.09 vs. 7.42 ± 5.56%MVE) and STR (5.47 ± 5.00 vs. 3.28 ± 1.94%MVE). MANOVA showed a group and time effect regarding data from the microdialysis: for MYA versus CON group differences demonstrated lower muscle blood flow and higher lactate and pyruvate concentrations. Potassium and glucose only showed time effects. NIRS showed similar initial decreases in oxygenation with PEG in both groups, but only in CON a significant increase back to baseline during PEG. VAS score at rest was highest among MYA and increased during PEG, but not for CON. The results showed significant differences between CON and MYA regarding muscle metabolism at rest and with PEG and STR. Higher relative muscle load during PEG and STR, insufficient muscle blood flow and oxygenation may account for the higher lactate, pyruvate and pain responses among MYA versus CON.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Armitage P, Berry G (1987) Statistical methods in medical research, 2nd edn. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashina M, Stallknecht B, Bendtsen L, Pedersen JF, Galbo H, Dalgaard P, Olesen J (2002) In vivo evidence of altered skeletal muscle blood flow in chronic tension-type headache. Brain 125:320–326

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blangsted AK, Sjøgaard G, Madeleine P, Olsen HB, Søgaard K (2005) Voluntary low-force contraction elicits prolonged low-frequency fatigue and changes in surface electromyography and mechanomyography. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 15:138–148

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Borg GAV (1982) Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc 14:377–381

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brunnekreef JJ, Oosterhof J, Thijssen DH, Colier WN, van Uden CJ (2006) Forearm blood flow and oxygen consumption in patients with bilateral repetitive strain injury measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 26:178–184

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cairns SP (2006) Lactic acid and exercise performance: culprit or friend? Sports Med 36:279–291

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chance B, Dait MT, Zhang C, Hamaoka T, Hagerman F (1992) Recovery from exercise-induced desaturation in the quadriceps muscles of elite competitive rowers. Am J Physiol 262:C766–C775

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Essendrop M, Schibye B, Hansen K (2001) Reliability of isometric muscle strength tests for the trunk, hands and shoulders. Int J Ind Erg 28:379–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flodgren GM, Hellstrom FB, Fahlstrom M, Crenshaw AG (2006) Effects of 30 versus 60 min of low-load work on intramuscular lactate, pyruvate, glutamate, prostaglandin E(2) and oxygenation in the trapezius muscle of healthy females. Eur J Appl Physiol 97:557–565

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flodgren GM, Crenshaw AG, Gref M, Fahlstrom M (2009) Changes in interstitial noradrenaline, trapezius muscle activity and oxygen saturation during low-load work and recovery. Eur J Appl Physiol 107:31–42

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frankenhaeuser M, Johansson G (1976) Task demand as reflected in catecholamine excretion and heart rate. J Human Stress 2:15–23

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney FA, Sjøgaard G, Saltin B (1990) Cardiovascular and metabolic responses to static contraction in man. Acta Physiol Scand 138:249–258

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gerdle B, Lemming D, Kristiansen J, Larsson B, Peolsson M, Rosendal L (2008) Biochemical alterations in the trapezius muscle of patients with chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD)—a microdialysis study. Eur J Pain 2:82–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gladden LB (2004) Lactate metabolism: a new paradigm for the third millennium. J Physiol 558:5–30

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamberg-van Reenen HH, Ariens GA, Blatter BM, Twisk JW, van Mechelen W, Bongers PM (2006) Physical capacity in relation to low back, neck, or shoulder pain in a working population. Occup Environ Med 63:371–377

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen J, Thomas GD, Harris SA, Parsons WJ, Victor RG (1996) Differential sympathetic neural control of oxygenation in resting and exercising human skeletal muscle. J Clin Invest 98:584–596

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hickner RC, Bone D, Ungerstedt U, Jorfeldt L, Henriksson J (1994) Muscle blood flow during intermittent exercise: comparison of the microdialysis ethanol technique and 133Xe clearance. Clin Sci (Lond) 86:15–25

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ilmarinen J, Tuomi K, Klockars M (1997) Changes in the work ability of active employees over an 11-year period. Scand J Work Environ Health 23(Suppl 1):49–57

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen C, Vasseljen O, Westgaard RH (1993) The influence of electrode position on bipolar surface electromyogram recordings of the upper trapezius muscle. Eur J Appl Physiol 67:266–273

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johansson H, Arendt-Nielsen L, Bergenheim M, Blair S, van Dieen J, Djupsjöbacka M, Fallentin N, Gold JE, Hägg G, Kalezic N, Larsson S-E, Ljubisavljevic M, Lyskov E, Mano T, Magnusson M, Passatore M, Pedrosa-Domellöf F, Punnett L, Roatta S, Thornell L-E, Windhorst U, Zukowska Z (2003) Epilogue: an integrated model for chronic work-related myalgia “Brussels Model”. In Johansson H, Windhorst U, Djupsjöbacka M, Passatore M (eds) Chronic work-related myalgia—Neuromuscular mechanisms behind work-related chronic muscle pain syndromes. Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, Umeå, Sweden, pp 291–300

  • Juel C, Pilegaard H, Nielsen JJ, Bangsbo J (2000) Interstitial K(+) in human skeletal muscle during and after dynamic graded exercise determined by microdialysis. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 278:R400–R406

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Juul-Kristensen B, Kadefors R, Hansen K, Byström P, Sandsjö L, Sjøgaard G (2006) Clinical signs and physical function in neck and upper extremities among elderly female computer users: the NEW-study. Eur J Appl Physiol 96:136–145

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson B, Bjork J, Elert J, Lindman R, Gerdle B (2001) Fibre type proportion and fibre size in trapezius muscle biopsies from cleaners with and without myalgia and its correlation with ragged red fibres, cytochrome-c-oxidase-negative fibres, biomechanical output, perception of fatigue, and surface electromyography during repetitive forward flexions. Eur J Appl Physiol 84:492–502

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson B, Bjork J, Kadi F, Lindman R et al (2002) Blood supply and oxidative metabolism in muscle biopsies of female cleaners with and without myalgia. Clin J Pain 20:440–446

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson B, Søgaard K, Rosendal L (2007) Work related neck-shoulder pain; a review on magnitude, risk factors, biochemical characteristics, clinical picture and preventive interventions. Invited review. Best Pract Clin Rheumatol 21:447–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson B, Rosendal L, Kristiansen J, Sjøgaard G, Søgaard K, Ghafouri B, Abdiu A, Kjaer M, Gerdle B (2008) Responses of algesic and metabolic substances to 8 h of repetitive manual work in myalgic human trapezius muscle. Pain 140:479–490

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lonnroth P, Jansson PA, Smith U (1987) A microdialysis method allowing characterization of intercellular water space in humans. Am J Physiol 253:E228–E231

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maclean DA, Imadojemu VA, Sinoway LI (2000) Interstitial pH, K(+), lactate, and phosphate determined with MSNA during exercise in humans. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 278:R563–R571

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murthy G, Hargens AR, Lehman S, Rempel DM (2001) Ischemia causes muscle fatigue. J Orthop Res 19:436–440

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ohlsson K, Attewell RG, Johnsson B, Ahlm A, Skerfving S (1994) An assessment of neck and upper extremity disorders by questionnaire and clinical examination. Ergonomics 37:891–897

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosdahl H, Hamrin K, Ungerstedt U, Henriksson J (1998) Metabolite levels in human skeletal muscle and adipose tissue studied with microdialysis at low perfusion flow. Am J Physiol 274:E936–E945

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosendal L, Blangsted AK, Kristiansen J, Søgaard K, Langberg H, Sjøgaard G, Kjær M (2004a) Interstitial muscle lactate, pyruvate, and potassium dynamics in the trapezius muscle during repetitive low-force contractions, measured with microdialysis. Acta Physiol Scand 2004:379–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosendal L, Larsson B, Kristiansen J, Peolsson M, Søgaard K, Kjær M, Sørensen J, Gerdle B (2004b) Increase in muscle nociceptive substances and anaerobic metabolism in patients with trapezius myalgia: microdialysis in rest and during exercise. Pain 2004:324–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosendal L, Kristiansen J, Gerdle B, Søgaard K, Peolsson M, Kjær M, Sörensen L, Larsson B (2005) Increased levels of interstitial potassium but normal levels of muscle IL-6 and LDH in patients with trapezius myalgia. Pain 119:201–209

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sandsjö L, Larsman P, Vollenbroek-Hutten MMR, Läubli T, Juul-Kristensen B, Klipstein A, Hermens H, Søgaard K (2006) Comparative assessment of study groups of elderly female computer users from four European countries: questionnaires used in the NEW study. Eur J Appl Physiol 96:122–126

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scheller D, Kolb J (1991) The internal reference technique in microdialysis: a practical approach to monitoring dialysis efficiency and to calculating tissue concentration from dialysate samples. J Neurosci Methods 40:31–38

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sinoway LI, Hill JM, Pickar JG, Kaufman MP (1993) Effects of contraction and lactic acid on the discharge of group III muscle afferents in cats. J Neurophysiol 69(4):1053–1059

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sjøgaard G, Lundberg U, Kadefors R (2000) The role of muscle activity and mental load in the development of pain and degenerative processes at the muscle cell level during computer work. Eur J Appl Physiol 83:99–105

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sjøgaard G, Jensen BR, Hargens AR, Søgaard K (2004) Intramuscular pressure and EMG relate during static contractions but dissociate with movement and fatigue. J Appl Physiol 96:1522–1529

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sjøgaard G, Søgaard K, Hermens HJ, Sandsjö L, Läubli T, Thorn S, Vollenbroek-Hutten MMR, Sell L, Christensen H, Klipstein A, Kadefors R, Merletti R (2006) Neuromuscular assessment in elderly workers with and without work related shoulder/neck trouble: the NEW-study design and physiological findings. Eur J Appl Physiol 96:110–121

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stallknecht B, Donsmark M, Enevoldsen LH, Fluckey JD, Galbo H (1999) Estimation of rat muscle blood flow by microdialysis probes perfused with ethanol, [14C]ethanol, and 3H2O. J Appl Physiol 86:1054–1061

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strom V, Knardahl S, Stanghelle JK, Roe C (2009a) Pain induced by a single simulated office-work session: time course and association with muscle blood flux and muscle activity. Eur J Pain 13:843–852

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strom V, Roe C, Knardahl S (2009b) Work-induced pain, trapezius blood flux, and muscle activity in workers with chronic shoulder and neck pain. Pain 144:147–155

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Visser B, van Dieen JH (2006) Pathophysiology of upper extremity muscle disorders. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 16:1–16

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the Danish Medical Research Council 22-03-0264, the Danish Rheumatism Association 233-1149-02.02.04, the Swedish Research Council (K2005-27X-15316-01A), and the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (2004-0289).

Conflict of interest statement

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gisela Sjøgaard.

Additional information

Communicated by Susan Ward.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sjøgaard, G., Rosendal, L., Kristiansen, J. et al. Muscle oxygenation and glycolysis in females with trapezius myalgia during stress and repetitive work using microdialysis and NIRS. Eur J Appl Physiol 108, 657–669 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1268-2

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1268-2

Keywords

Navigation