Effects of experimentally induced mental and physical stress on motor unit recruitment in the trapezius muscle

Lundberg, Ulf; Forsman, Mikael; Zachau, Gunilla; Eklöf, Mats; Palmerud, Gunnar; Melin, Bo; Kadefors, Roland

doi:10.1080/02678370210136699

Cited by 140 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(11 reference statements)

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“…It therefore is important to collect evidence concerning this variable also with regard to the possible moderating role of dispositions. Musculoskeletal pain has been added because of its epidemiological importance, and because there is evidence that it is related to stress at work (Hurrell, 2001), presumably because the stress experience is associated with muscular tension (Lundberg et al, 2002). Showing that locus of control moderates the interaction between stressors and control for this variable, therefore, adds evidence for a dependent variable that has, to our knowledge, never been investigated with regard to this three-way interaction, and it shows that this effect does not only apply to dependent variables with a strongly affective tone.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent models assume that the tension created by the stress experience manifests itself also in muscular tension, particularly by keeping low threshold motor units active even in the absence of physical load. The main pathway is seen in the activation of the sympathetic adrenal medullary system, particularly norepinephrine, which heightens muscle activity by increasing the sensitivity of the muscular synapses (Lundberg et al, 2002). To the extent that stress causes muscular tension, variables that may attenuate the stress experience, such as job control, should also attenuate muscular tension.…”

Section: Goals and Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The double meaning of control: Three-way interactions between internal resources, job control, and stressors at work.

Meier

Semmer

Jacobshagen

2008

Journal of Occupational Health Psychology

143

108

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The Job Demand-Control model postulates that job control attenuates the effects of job demands on health and well-being. Support for this interactive effect is rather weak. Conceivably, it holds only when there is a match between job control and individual characteristics that relate to exercising control options, such as locus of control, or self-efficacy. This three-way interaction was tested in a sample of 96 service employees, with affective strain and musculoskeletal pain as dependent variables. As hypothesized, job control attenuated the effects of stressors only for people with an internal locus of control. For people with an external locus of control, job control actually predicted poorer well-being and health as stressors increased. For self-efficacy, the corresponding three-way interaction was significant with regard to affective strain.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Goals and Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The double meaning of control: Three-way interactions between internal resources, job control, and stressors at work.

Meier

Semmer

Jacobshagen

2008

Journal of Occupational Health Psychology

143

108

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“…Many previous studies show that there is another factor that might play a role in the MSD symptom which is called psychosocial stress [12][13][14][15]. The definition of psychosocial stress was given as a stress that associated with a non-physical factor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of psychosocial stress on muscle activity during computer work: Comparative study between desktop computer and mobile computing products

Taib

Bahn

Yun

2016

WOR

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Abstract. BACKGROUND:The popularity of mobile computing products is well known. Thus, it is crucial to evaluate their contribution to musculoskeletal disorders during computer usage under both comfortable and stressful environments. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the effect of different computer products' usages with different tasks used to induce psychosocial stress on muscle activity. METHODS: Fourteen male subjects performed computer tasks: sixteen combinations of four different computer products with four different tasks used to induce stress. Electromyography for four muscles on the forearm, shoulder and neck regions and task performances were recorded. RESULTS: The increment of trapezius muscle activity was dependent on the task used to induce the stress where a higher level of stress made a greater increment. However, this relationship was not found in the other three muscles. Besides that, compared to desktop and laptop use, the lowest activity for all muscles was obtained during the use of a tablet or smart phone. The best net performance was obtained in a comfortable environment. However, during stressful conditions, the best performance can be obtained using the device that a user is most comfortable with or has the most experience with. CONCLUSIONS: Different computer products and different levels of stress play a big role in muscle activity during computer work. Both of these factors must be taken into account in order to reduce the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders or problems.

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“…In a laboratory stu by Wahlström and colleagues investigating the impact of perceived acute stress experienced during computer work on muscular activity, wrist movements and fo applied to the computer mouse the results indicate that increases in muscle activity, rapid wrist movements and forces applied to the computer mouse were associated with stressful working conditions relative to control conditions (Wahlström et al 2002). The results of similar studies, in which mental stress was induced amongst computer users in a laboratory setting, support these findings (Lundberg et al, 2001). A recent study investigating the possible effects of mental pressure and demands for precision on upper extremities found a considerable increase in the load as a result of mental pressure (Visser et al 2004).…”

mentioning

confidence: 52%

“…However, Eklöf et al (Eklöf, 2001) computed reliability to be satisfactory (approximately 0.90) in an index based on the comfort items in a sample of 400 Swedish computer users. Such a result would not have been likely if the items contributing to the score had poor reliability.…”

Section: Comfortmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concordance between VDU-users’ ratings of comfort and perceived exertion with experts’ observations of workplace layout and working postures

Lindegård

Karlberg

Tornqvist³

et al. 2005

Applied Ergonomics

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All previously published papers have been reproduced with permission from the publisher.Published and printed by Intellecta DocuSys AB, Göteborg, Sweden, 2007 © Agneta Lindegård Andersson, 2007 ISBN 978-91-628-7098-0 Working technique during computer work Associations with biomechanical and psychological strain, neck and upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms Agneta Lindegård AnderssonThe Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Institute of Medicine Department of Public Health and Community Medicine Occupational and Environmental Medicine AbstractAbout 35 % of the working population in Sweden report that computer use accounts for 50% or more of their total working hours. Among this population approximately 40% of the women and 25% of the men experienced symptoms in the neck and/or upper extremities at least once a week during the preceding 3 month. The overall aim of the studies underlying this thesis was to explore possible associations between working technique and perceived exertion, comfort, biomechanical and psychosocial strain as well as neck and upper extremity symptoms among computer users. Specific research questions addressed were a) Whether working technique was associated with muscle activity, wrist positions and forces applied to the computer mouse, respectively? b) Whether working technique was associated with psychological demands, emotional stress and perceived muscle tension, respectively? c) Whether there were associations between self-rated perceived comfort and observations of workplace layout and between self-rated perceived exertion and working postures. d) Whether working technique perceived exertion and comfort was associated with neck and upper extremity symptoms.The results showed that subjects classified as having a good working technique worked with less muscular load in the forearm (p=0.03) and in the trapezius muscle on the mouse operating side (p=0.02) compared to subjects classified as having a poor working technique. Subjects who reported high psychological demands and perceived muscular tension, respectively, used poorer working technique than subjects who did not perceive this conditions (demands, p=0.03, muscular tension, p=0.02). Moreover, the concordance between ratings of comfort and observations of workplace layout was reasonably good concerning the working chair and the keyboard and good regarding the computer screen and the input device. The concordance between ratings of perceived exertion and observations of working postures indicated good agreement for all measured body locations. This applies to the group that rated poor comfort and high exertion. Regarding the group that rated good comfort and low exertion ratings must be supplemented with observations. Furthermore, the results revealed that high perceived exertion and low comfort were related to an increased incidence of neck, and upper extremity symptoms, while poor working technique was not associated with such a risk. It is concluded that working technique is associated with both biomechanical and p...

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Effects of experimentally induced mental and physical stress on motor unit recruitment in the trapezius muscle

Cited by 140 publications

References 14 publications

The double meaning of control: Three-way interactions between internal resources, job control, and stressors at work.

The double meaning of control: Three-way interactions between internal resources, job control, and stressors at work.

The effect of psychosocial stress on muscle activity during computer work: Comparative study between desktop computer and mobile computing products

Concordance between VDU-users’ ratings of comfort and perceived exertion with experts’ observations of workplace layout and working postures

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