Saf Health Work.  2018 Sep;9(3):319-325. 10.1016/j.shaw.2017.07.004.

Effects of Shoulder Taping on Discomfort and Electromyographic Responses of the Neck While Texting on a Touchscreen Smartphone

• Areeudomwong P
• Oapdunsalam K
• Havicha Y
• Tantai S
• Buttagat V

• KMID: 2425305
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2017.07.004

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Prolonged neck flexion during smartphone use is known as a factor of neck pain and alteration of neck muscle activity. Studies on the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort and neck muscle responses while texting on a smartphone are still lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort using a numerical rating scale, and neck muscle activity and fatigue using a surface electromyography during a texting task on a touchscreen smartphone.
METHODS
Twenty-five healthy adolescents used the dominant hand to perform a 30-minute texting task using a touchscreen smartphone at two separate times under one of the following two conditions: taping across the upper trapezius muscle and no taping. Neck discomfort, normalized root mean square, and normalized median frequency slopes for upper trapezius, cervical erector spinae, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were recorded.
RESULTS
The results revealed that shoulder taping provided significantly lower neck discomfort than no taping (p < 0.001). However, shoulder taping did not significantly alter normalized root mean square and normalized median frequency slope values of all muscles when compared with no taping controls.
CONCLUSION
Shoulder taping reduces neck discomfort but does not affect neck muscle activity and fatigue while texting on a touchscreen smartphone.

Keyword

Muscle activity; Muscle fatigue; Neck discomfort; Shoulder taping; Smartphone

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Electromyography
Fatigue
Hand
Humans
Muscle Fatigue
Muscles
Neck Muscles
Neck Pain
Neck*
Shoulder*
Smartphone*
Superficial Back Muscles
Text Messaging*