SpringerLink - Journal Article

Original Article

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

Cecilie Røe^{1, 2}, Elin Damsgård⁴ and Stein Knardahl^{1, 3}

(1)	Department of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, National Institute of Occupational health, Oslo, Norway

(2)	Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ullevål University Hospital, 0407 Oslo, Norway

(3)	Institute of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

(4)	Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University hospital of Northern Norway, Tromsø, Norway

Accepted: 29 October 2007 Published online: 15 November 2007

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.

Keywords Blood flow - Muscle activity - Muscle pain - Isometric - Contraction - Laser Doppler method

Cecilie Røe
Email: eller@medisin.uio.no

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