Effects of combining ergonomic interventions and motor control exercises on muscle activity and kinematics in people with work-related neck‚Äìshoulder pain
Authors: Billy C L So
Sharon M H Tsang
Jie Dai
Rufina W L Lau
Grace P Y Szeto
Journal: European Journal of Applied Physiology (2018)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Electromyography; Ergonomics; Kinematics; Motor control; Neck pain.
Affiliations: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China., Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China. .

Abstract:  Purpose: This study compared the effects of "Ergomotor" intervention and conventional physiotherapy, on influencing the motor control in the neck-shoulder region in people with work-related neck-shoulder pain (WRNSP). Methods: 101 patients (age range 20-54 years) diagnosed with chronic WRNSP were randomized into control (CO) group (n = 50) and Ergomotor (EM) group (n = 51). Each group received a 12-week intervention. Participants in CO group received treatment for pain relief and general exercises. EM group received individualized motor control training and advice of ergonomic modifications at their workplaces. Results: At post-intervention, EM group showed significant reduction of bilateral upper trapezius muscle activity during active neck movements (left: 40-35%, right: 35-27%) and functional tasks such as lifting a weight forward-backward (left: 31-21%, right: 22-14%) and upward-downward (left: 26-23%, right: 20-13%). Cervical erector spinae also showed significant decrease in muscle activity during some phases of the functional tasks (left: 13-6%, right: 10-2%). In contrast, CO group did not show such changes in muscle activity at post-intervention. EM group also showed significant increase in movement velocity and acceleration during active neck movements in all directions (from 18 to 31%), while CO group only showed significant increase in movement velocity in some directions. Both groups reported significant but similar reduction in pain scores, at post-intervention and 1-year follow-up. Conclusions: The present results provided some evidence to support the positive and sustainable benefits of integrating motor control training into the workplace postures and motions. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 There are 3 articles from the same research team (2 with the same surname as the lead researcher) where you describe the same RCT with very unclear results and tables (some tables present with different numbers too). However, my main concern is that these articles are recycling or re-using the same work and at times without appropriate disclosure and or citation. This could have been one article or 2 articles max with appropriate referencing to the original trial. Tsang SMH, So BCL, Lau RWL, Dai J, Szeto GPY. Effects of combining ergonomic interventions and motor control exercises on muscle activity and kinematics in people with worku2010related necku2010shoulder pain. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2018;118:751u2013765. Tsang SMH, So BCL, Lau RWL, Dai J, Szeto GPY. Comparing the effectiveness of integrating ergonomics and motor control to conventional treatment for pain and functional recovery of worku2010related necku2010shoulder pain: a randomized trial. Eur J Pain. 2019;23:1141u20131152. So, B. C. L., Szeto, G. P. Y., Lau, R. W. L., Dai, J., Tsang, S. M. H. (2019). Effects of Ergomotor Intervention on Improving Occupational Health in Workers with Work-Related Neck-Shoulder Pain. In International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Vol. 16, Issue 24). https: doi.org 10.3390 ijerph16245005 ,