A Neurophysiological Pattern as a Precursor of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Using EEG Combined with EMG

Colince Meli Segning, Hassan Ezzaidi, Rubens A. da Silva and Suzy Ngomo
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Colince Meli Segning: Department of Applied Sciences, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada
Hassan Ezzaidi: Department of Applied Sciences, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada
Rubens A. da Silva: Laboratoire de Recherche Biomécanique et Neurophysiologique en Réadaptation Neuro-Musculo-Squelettique ( Lab BioNR ), Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada
Suzy Ngomo: Laboratoire de Recherche Biomécanique et Neurophysiologique en Réadaptation Neuro-Musculo-Squelettique ( Lab BioNR ), Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: We aimed to determine the neurophysiological pattern that is associated with the development of musculoskeletal pain that is induced by biomechanical constraints. Twelve (12) young healthy volunteers (two females) performed two experimental realistic manual tasks for 30 min each: (1) with the high risk of musculoskeletal pain development and (2) with low risk for pain development. During the tasks, synchronized electroencephalographic (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) signals data were collected, as well as pain scores. Subsequently, two main variables were computed from neurophysiological signals: (1) cortical inhibition as Task-Related Power Increase (TRPI) in beta EEG frequency band (?.TRPI) and (2) muscle variability as Coefficient of Variation (CoV) from EMG signals. A strong effect size was observed for pain measurement under the high risk condition during the last 5 min of the task execution; with muscle fatigue, because the CoV has decreased below 18%. An increase in cortical inhibition (?.TRPI >50%) was observed after the 5th min of the task in both experimental conditions. These results suggest the following neurophysiological pattern—?.TRPI ? 50% and CoV ? 18%—as a possible indicator to monitor the development of musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder in the context of repeated and prolonged exposure to manual tasks.

Keywords: EEG; ?.TRPI; EMG; pain; musculoskeletal disorders; manual task (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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