Upper Trapezius Myofascial Trigger Point in Overhead Athletes After Upper Trapezius Muscle Fatigue

Phase 3

Completed

• Conditions: Fatigue; Myofascial Trigger Point Pain
• Interventions: Behavioral: Upper trapezius muscle fatigue

• Registration Number: NCT03993223
• Lead Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital

Brief Summary

The healthy overhead athletes with and without upper trapezius myofascial trigger point will be asked to perform a scapular elevation task until the upper trapezius muscle fatigue. The first hypothesis is that the subjects with upper trapezius myofascial trigger point will show significant difference in scapular kinematics and muscles activities when compared to subjects without upper trapezius myofascial trigger point. Besides, the investigators suggest that subjects with/without upper trapezius myofascial trigger point will show significant difference in scapular kinematics and muscles activities after upper trapezius muscle fatigue, especially in subjects with upper trapezius myofascial trigger point.

Detailed Description

The investigators will recruit healthy overhead athletes with and without upper trapezius myofascial trigger point. Participants will be asked to perform a sustained scapular elevation task at their peak force until the force decrease 50 %, which indicates upper trapezius muscle fatigue. There are two purposes in the current study: (1) to compare the differences between overhead athletes with/without upper trapezius myofascial trigger point during arm elevation in scapular kinematics and muscles activities (2) to investigate the effects of upper trapezius muscle fatigue on scapular kinematics and muscles activities in overhead athletes with/without upper trapezius myofascial trigger point. The first hypothesis is that the subjects with upper trapezius myofascial trigger point will show significant difference in scapular kinematics and muscles activities when compared to subjects without upper trapezius myofascial trigger point. Besides, the investigators suggest that subjects with/without upper trapezius myofascial trigger point will show significant difference in scapular kinematics and muscles activities after upper trapezius muscle fatigue, especially in subjects with upper trapezius myofascial trigger point. The outcome measurements includes scapular kinematics (upward/downward rotation, external/internal rotation, posterior/anterior tilting) and muscles activities (upper trapezius, serratus anterior, lower trapezius).

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2019-06-12
• Study Start: 2019-06-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-06-19
• Study First Posted: 2019-06-20
• Primary Completion: 2021-05-31
• Status Verified: 2022-02
• Study Completion: 2022-02-28
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-02-28
• Last Update Posted: 2022-03-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• 18-50 years old active overhead athletes
• No symptoms in the shoulder of dominant side in the past 6 months
• Regularly perform overhead sports activity ≥ 3 hr/wk for more than 6 months

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Exclusion Criteria

• History of major shoulder/cervical injury or surgery in the past 6 months
• Experiencing shoulder pain, or participating in rehabilitation for shoulder pain in the past 6 months before the study

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Control group	Upper trapezius muscle fatigue	Healthy overhead athletes without upper trapezius myofascial trigger point
MTrP group	Upper trapezius muscle fatigue	Healthy overhead athletes with upper trapezius myofascial trigger point

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Scapular kinematics	10 minutes	Change of scapular kinematics immediately after fatigue task
Scapular muscles electromyography	10 minutes	Change of scapular muscles electromyography immediately after fatigue task

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Taiwan university hospital; 🇨🇳 Taipei, Taiwan