Reliability of bloodflux measurements from the upper trapezius muscle during muscle contractions

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the blood flux responses to isometric contractions and recovery. We also wanted to assess the variations in Laser Doppler blood fluxes (LDF) within the upper trapezius muscles, the concordance between the left and right sides and the reliability of blood-flux measurements between contractions and over measurement days. Ten subjects, mean age 25 years (21-35 years), performed two isometric shoulder abduction contractions at 10% of maximal voluntary contraction torque (MVC), repeated on two separate days. LDF were measured in three sites in the upper trapezius muscles bilaterally. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate and electromyography from the upper trapezius muscles was also recorded. The reliability of blood flux measurements during rest and contractions are good; however, considerable variations between positions and between measurements in different muscles were observed. Laser-Doppler measurement of microcirculation is a promising method. Considerable variations between measurement sites, muscles, and variations over measurement days indicate caution with interpretation of blood flux responses between conditions and individuals.

Effect of muscle load tasks with maximal isometric contractions on oxygenation of the trapezius muscle and sympathetic nervous activity in females with chronic neck and shoulder pain

“…However, shoulder and neck pain occur commonly during work involving very low levels of muscle activity. Also the low level contraction like the work task increased the trapezius muscle blood flux [3,9]. Furthermore, subjects with neck pain did not differ from the healthy subjects in the EMG levels of the trapezius muscles during the work task [3].…”

“…In contrast, activation of skeletal muscle fibers by somatic nerves leads to vasodilation. A previous study showed that low-level static contraction did increase trapezius muscle blood flux [9]. A lot of the results in an association between muscle activity and pain are not consistent.…”

Pain induced by a single simulated office‐work session: Time course and association with muscle blood flux and muscle activity

“…In the inactive trapezius the baseline level was approached. Røe et al (2008) have reported reliable intramuscular LDF blood flux measurements during resting conditions and low-level contractions, and LDF signals due to artifacts were eliminated (Fig. The LDF probes measure the microcirculation in 1 mm 3 hemispheres which may not be representative for the muscle as a whole.…”

Assessment of bone vascularity in the anterior mandible using laser Doppler flowmetry

“…Res. 20, 2009; 140-144. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2008.01631.x muscular, gingival, pulpal, and oral mucosal tissues (Donos et al 2005;Kocabalkan & Turgut 2005;Mavropoulos et al 2007;Retzepi et al 2007;Seike et al 2007;von Arx et al 2007;Emshoff et al 2008;Rajan et al 2008;Re et al 2008;Singh et al 2008). Several animal and a few clinical human studies assessing bone vascularity by LDF have also been carried out (Beaulé et al 2006(Beaulé et al , 2007Murnaghan et al 2006).…”