Abstract
Many studies describe the trapezius muscle activation pattern during repetitive key-tap** focusing on continuous activation. The objectives of this study were to determine whether the upper trapezius is phasically active during supported key tap**, whether this activity is cross-correlated with forearm muscle activity, and whether trapezius activity depends on key characteristic. Thirteen subjects (29.7 ± 11.4 years) were tested. Surface EMG of the finger’s extensor and flexor and of the trapezius muscles, as well as the key on–off signal was recorded while the subject performed a 2-min session of key tap** at 4 Hz. The linear envelopes obtained were cut into single tap** cycles extending from one onset to the next onset signal and subsequently time-normalized. Effect size between mean range and maximal standard deviation was calculated to determine as to whether a burst of trapezius muscle activation was present. Cross-correlation was used to determine the time-lag of the activity bursts between forearm and trapezius muscles. For each person the mean and standard deviation of the cross-correlations coefficient between forearm muscles and trapezius were determined. Results showed a burst of activation in the trapezius muscle during most of the tap** cycles. The calculated effect size was ≥0.5 in 67% of the cases. Cross-correlation factors between forearm and trapezius muscle activity were between 0.75 and 0.98 for both extensor and flexor muscles. The cross-correlated phasic trapezius activity did not depend on key characteristics. Trapezius muscle was dynamically active during key tap**; its activity was clearly correlated with forearm muscles’ activity.
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Communicated by Arnold de Haan.
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Tomatis, L., Müller, C., Nakaseko, M. et al. Evidence for repetitive load in the trapezius muscle during a tap** task. Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 3053–3059 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2290-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2290-8