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• Benefit of resistance exercise in knee and hip OA depends on comparator intervention. • Greater pain and function benefits for resistance exercise versus no intervention. • Less pain benefit for resistance exercise versus exercise + non-exercise in knee OA. • Less pain benefit for resistance exercise versus non-exercise in hip OA. • Dose-response between strength gains and pain/function improvements in knee OA. In knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA), the mechanism for resistance exercise improving clinical outcomes and the dose-response between strength and clinical outcomes are unknown; in part due to inconsistent trial designs across studies. To determine whether the effects of resistance exercise interventions on pain and function differ based on comparator group; and whether there is an association between improvements in lower extremity strength with improvements in pain and function in knee and hip OA. We searched 6 databases (inception to January 28 2023,) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing land-based, resistance exercise-only interventions with no intervention or any other intervention. There were four subgroups for comparator intervention: NONE (none/placebo/sham/usual care), EXE (other exercise interventions alone), NONEXE (non-exercise interventions alone), COMBO (combined exercise + non-exercise interventions). The between-group effect (ES) was calculated for immediate post-intervention pain and function (activities of daily living (ADL) and sports/recreation (SPORT)). Meta-regression analyses were completed to evaluate the association between improvements in lower extremity strength (independent variable) and improvements in pain, ADL and SPORT (dependent variables), irrespective of comparator intervention. For knee OA (257 studies), there were large benefits for pain [ES (95 % CI) = -0.92 (-1.15, -0.69)], ADL [-0.79 (-1.01, -0.56)] and SPORT [-0.79 (-1.02, -0.56)] favouring resistance exercise interventions compared to NONE. For knee pain, there was also a moderate benefit favouring COMBO interventions compared to resistance exercise interventions [0.44 (0.23, 0.65)]. For hip OA (15 studies), there were moderate benefits for pain [-0.51 (-0.68, -0.33)], ADL [-0.57 (-0.78, -0.36)] and SPORT [-0.52 (-0.70, -0.35)] favouring exercise interventions compared to NONE. For hip pain, there was also a moderate benefit favouring NONEXE interventions compared to resistance exercise interventions [0.57 (0.17, 0.97)]. For knee OA, greater strength gains were associated with larger improvements in pain [β (95 % CI) = -0.24 (-0.38, -0.09)], ADL [-0.43 (-0.73, -0.12)] and SPORT [-0.37 (-0.73, -0.00)]. In knee and hip OA, the effects of resistance exercise on pain and function improvements depend on the comparator intervention. For knee OA, a dose-response relationship was observed between lower extremity strength gains with pain and function improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Repetitive movements and awkward postures are two persistent injury risk factors for grocery store cashiers. Due to the recent rise in popularity of environmentally-friendly grocery bagging options, current recommendations for cashiers are likely outdated. Correspondingly, the objective of this study was to examine the effects of cashier-specific work demands, workstation configuration, and container type on upper limb postures during typical job activities.Methods: Fifteen experienced cashiers bagged groceries at varying combinations of workstation height (low, medium, high) and container type (reusable bins, reusable bags, plastic bags). Upper limb movement was quantified with motion capture and amplitude probability distribution functions of humeral elevation and humeral axial internal rotation were used to assess the static (10th percentile), median (50th percentile), and peak (90th percentile) postural demands, which were then interpreted in the context of existing postural guidelines.Results: High workstation height and reusable bags increased right arm elevation at peak posture by 15.7° compared to the low workstation height and reusable bin combination. However, reusable bins increased internal rotation demands of the right arm by 4.3° compared to other container types. Left arm elevation and internal rotation were consistently lower than right arm angles.Conclusion: Cashiers are encouraged to adjust the workstation to decrease the arm elevation and internal rotation required by higher workstation heights and tall containers, and to use both arms for scanning and packing, when possible, to reduce undesirable arm postures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overhead work is a known catalyst for occupational shoulder injury. Industrial workers must often adopt awkward overhead postures and loading profiles to complete required tasks, potentially elevating injury risk. This research examined the combined influence of multiple overhead working parameters on upper extremity muscular demands for an industrial drilling application. Twenty-two right-handed males completed 24 unilateral and bilateral overhead work exertions stratified by direction (upward, forward), point of force application (15, 30 and 45 cm in front of the body), and whole-body posture (seated, standing). The dependency of electromyographic (EMG) activity on several factors was established. Significant two-way interactions existed between point of force application and direction (p < 0.0001) and direction and whole body posture (p < 0.0001). An average increase in muscular activity of 6.5% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) occurred for the contralateral limb when the bilateral task was completed, compared to unilateral tasks, with less than a 1% MVC increase for the active limb. These findings assist evidence-based approaches to overhead tasks, specifically in the construction industry. A bilateral task configuration is recommended to reduce glenohumeral stability demands. As well, particularly for tasks with a far reach distance, design tasks to promote a forward directed exertion. The considerable inter-subject variability suggests that fixed heights are not ideal, and should be avoided, and where this is not possible reaches should be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing number of breast cancer survivors from improved cancer treatments. However, treatments often impair upper limb function, specifically range of motion and strength, reducing quality of life and function. The primary purpose of this study was to quantify differences in strength and range of motion following treatment. The secondary purpose aimed to measure the activation of each upper limb muscle in the completion of tasks. 29 breast cancer survivors were categorized into two groups based on time-since-treatment: 1) up to 1-year post-treatment, and 2) 1 to 2 years post-treatment. Participants completed maximal strength and range of motion tasks. During trials eight muscles were monitored bilaterally. Maximal force output was taken during strength trials, and kinematics were monitored during range of motion trials. A 2 by 2 mixed ANOVA (limb (affected, unaffected) x time-since-treatment) examined interaction and main effects of these factors on task peak force, angle and mean activation. Time-since-treatment influenced strength (flexion, extension, internal and external rotation) and range of motion (flexion, scapular abduction), wherein the group further from treatment had 11.5–15.5° less range of motion and 27.7–43.6 N less force production. A main effect of time-since-treatment influenced muscular behaviours during both tasks, where activation was higher in the group 1–2 years from treatment. Effects of treatment may manifest in a delayed manner whereby strength and range of motion are reduced in breast cancer survivors to a greater extent in those who are past 1 year of treatment cessation. • Strength decreases more between 1 and 2 than within 1 year of breast cancer treatment. • Range of motion also decreases between 1 and 2 years from treatment. • Muscular activation is higher 1–2 years from treatment compared to within 1 year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface electromyography (sEMG) is commonly used to estimate muscle demands in occupational tasks. To allow for comparisons, sEMG amplitude is normalized to muscle specific maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs) performed in a standardized set of postures. However, maximal sEMG amplitude in shoulder muscles is highly dependent on arm posture and therefore, normalizing task related muscular activity to standard MVCs may lead to misinterpretation of task specific muscular demands. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate differences in commonly monitored shoulder muscles using normalized sEMG amplitude between maximal exertions at different hand locations and across force exertion directions relative to standard MVCs. sEMG was recorded from the middle deltoid, pectoralis major sternal head, infraspinatus, latissimus dorsi, and upper trapezius. Participants completed standardized muscle-specific MVCs and two maximal exertions in 5 hand locations (low left, low right, high left, high right, and central) in each of the four force directions (push, pull, up, and down). Peak sEMG was analyzed in the direction(s) that elicited the highest signal for each muscle. All muscles differed by location (p < 0.05). Latissimus dorsi had the greatest activation during pulls (32-135% MVC); upper trapezius and middle deltoid while exerting upwards (73-103% and 42-78% MVC, respectively); infraspinatus while pushing (38-79% MVC); and pectoralis major activation was the highest during downwards exertions (48-84% MVC). Normalization of location specific maximal exertions to standard muscle specific MVCs underestimated maximal activity across 90% of the tasks in all shoulder muscles tested, except for latissimus dorsi where amplitudes were overestimated in low right hand location. Normalization of location specific muscle activity to standard muscle specific MVCs often underestimates muscle activity in task performance and is cautioned against if the goal is to accurately estimate muscle demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational tasks often involve musculoskeletal demands that contribute to injury risk. In pallet wrapping tasks, 36% of workplace claims involve over exertion and repetitive exposures (Workplace Safety and Prevention Services, 2012). Tools that modify how the wrap is handled by workers have been introduced to help mitigate over exertion and extreme postures wherever possible. A novel device has been introduced that places the required tension on the roll to mitigate these factors. However, the effect of reducing the necessary tension on the roll during pallet wrapping in limiting muscular demand and extreme postures is unknown. Fourteen healthy university aged participants completed 12 wrapping trials on a simulated pallet (2 repetitions of 2 wrapping techniques (device, hand wrapping) at 3 wrapping heights (low, medium, high)). Surface electromyography (sEMG) was measured on 6 shoulder and 2 low back muscles; anterior and middle deltoids, biceps brachii, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, upper trapezius, and erector spinae (T8 & L3). Kinematic data were collected for the torso and upper extremity and global to torso, and torso to upper arm angles were computed. Repeated measures ANOVAs were performed for the following experimental factors: 1) technique used (device or hand wrapping) and 2) the wrapping height (low, medium, high) for each muscle (8), angle (5), rating of perceived discomfort (1) and rating of perceived exertion (1). Pallet wrapping without a device required greater trunk flexion at lower heights and thoracohumeral elevation at higher wrapping heights as compared to using the device. Muscular activation increased when using the device, specifically at the higher and lower heights. Posture and muscular demands during pallet wrapping tasks are sensitive to both wrapping technique and wrapping height. Ergonomics interventions such as this device may mitigate postural risks associated with manual material handling tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gold standard exercise for recruitment of the lower trapezius is the Y prone exercise which is performed above 90° of shoulder elevation. However, clinicians often prescribe exercises that avoid high elevation postures during early stages of rehabilitation. Comparatively little data exists on relative muscle recruitment during lower arm elevation exercises. This study examined the EMG activity of four shoulder girdle muscles during four exercises accomplished below 90° of shoulder elevation and compared them to the Y prone while considering sex effects. Variance across exercises of the ratio between upper trapezius and lower trapezius was also explored. 32 healthy participants completed standardized muscle-specific MVCs and two repetitions of each exercise. The side lying external rotation and the wall slide exercises produced the highest peak EMG for the lower trapezius, both 33 and 29% lower than the Y Prone. For the upper trapezius to lower trapezius ratio, the side lying external rotation elicited the lowest value, followed by the Y prone and wall slide (53 and 59% respectively higher). Sex influenced some EMG values, typically interacting with exercise type. Thus, side lying external rotation and the wall slide are recommended for targeting the lower trapezius muscle during early rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superior humeral head translation and scapula reorientation can reduce the subacromial space. While these kinematic abnormalities exist in injured populations, the effect of muscle fatigue is unclear. Additionally, these mechanisms were typically studied independently, thereby neglecting potential covariance. This research evaluated the influence of upper extremity muscle fatigue on glenohumeral and scapulothoracic kinematics and defined their relationship. Radiography and motion tracking systems captured these kinematic relationships, during scapula plane elevation, both before and after fatigue. Fatigue-induced changes in humeral head position, scapular orientation and the minimum subacromial space width were measured. High inter-subject variability existed for each measure which precluded identification of mean differences at the population level. However, significant scapular upward rotation occurred following fatigue (p=0.0002). Despite similar population mean results, between 39% and 57% of participants exhibited fatigue-related changes in disadvantageous orientations. Additionally, correlations between measures were generally fair (0.21-0.40) and highly dependent on elevation, likely attributed to the variable fatigue responses. Overall, the data confirms that fatigue-induced changes in kinematics poses highly variable risk of subacromial impingement syndrome across individuals. Thus, solely considering the "average" or mean population response likely underestimates potentially injurious fatigue consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]