EMG Response in Forearm and Neck Muscles When Comparing Surgical Techniques.

Exploring the Difference in EMG Response of Forearm and Sternocleidomastoid Muscles When Comparing Laparoscopic Surgery (LS) and Robot Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery (RALS).

Surgeons are performing an increasing number of minimal access procedures because these offer certain advantages including improved recovery times. However, this also results in surgeons operating for longer periods which inevitably increases the already known prevalence of work-related Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries amongst surgeons. Work-related MSK disorders account for 26 - 47.5% of illnesses and injuries due to overexertion and repetitive use, in professionals with ergonomically challenging jobs. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) is a modern technology that could help mitigate these MSK problems and thereby improve patient care. In comparison to standard laparoscopic surgery (LS), RALS offers steadier wrist movements with a reduced fulcrum effect, thus benefiting the patient.

No study has compared the demands of RALS vs. LS on musculoskeletal fatigue (and subsequent injury risk). The investigators need to determine whether a career using RALS is associated with better musculoskeletal health of surgeons than standard LS when performing complex minimally invasive procedures.

The study will recruit Surgeons who perform prostate and bowel surgical procedures who have experience using RALS and/or LS. Surgeons will complete a series of validated questionnaires before and after each surgery to subjectively determine musculoskeletal strain/pain and will have body composition quantified.

They will be fitted with EMG (to measure muscle fatigue) whilst performing real-life surgery. Analysis of data gathered will be used to show what the short- and long- term musculoskeletal demands are and in turn determine if these are associated with changes in motor control.

The researcher's postulated hypothesis is that RALS should have less musculoskeletal effects both short and long term on surgeons, therefore, highlighting the fact that the implementation of RALS should be less controversial, because in the long run, the most expensive objects in the operating room are the personnel.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Surgical Fatigue
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: No Interventions

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 9

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Lancashire
    • Blackburn, Lancashire, United Kingdom
      • Blackburn Royal Teaching Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy, adult laparoscopic and robot- assisted laparoscopic surgeons.

Description

Inclusion Criteria

• Either a laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic surgeon.
• Good musculoskeletal health.
• Adult.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Procedures with major complications (above 50% more time than the average for that surgery).
• Significant co- morbidities that could affect the results of the study. Significant symptoms of musculoskeletal disorder.
• Anything the investigator feels will affect the study's measurements of safety.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery; Surgeons performing robot assisted laparoscopic surgery.	Other: No Interventions; Observational study.
Laparoscopic Surgery; Surgeons performing manual laparoscopic surgery.	Other: No Interventions; Observational study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Acute muscle activation- percentage of forearm maximal voluntary contraction (%) assessed using EMG frequency.	This outcome measures the immediate impact of RALS and LS on the surgeon's forearm muscles during a single surgical procedure. It will be quantified by assessing the change in electromyography (EMG) frequency and amplitude recorded during clinically important surgical tasks within the surgeons' first surgery of the day. The contributing measures to this primary measure are the maximal voluntary contraction that will be assessed just before the surgery begins, and the average frequency of muscle activation (mV) over the 2 minute data collection period. Muscle activation for RALS and LS will be compared using this measure.	Intraoperative

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Surgeon musculoskeletal health over the last 12 months (Standardized Nordic Questionnaire)	This questionnaire assesses musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by the surgeons within the last 12 months. It helps to understand the prevalence and location of pain and discomfort before they participate in the study. This questionnaire primarily yields categorical data. For each of the nine body regions (neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows, low back, wrists/hands, hips/thighs, knees, ankles/feet), it asks about trouble (ache, pain, discomfort) in the past 12 months and in the past 7 days. It also asks if the trouble prevented normal work (at home or away from home).	Preoperative
Surgeon physical activity participation status (International Physical Activity Questionnaire	The frequency, duration, and intensity of different types of physical activities (vigorous, moderate, walking, and sitting) undertaken by the surgeons. It aims to quantify their overall physical activity level. Can be reported as continuous scores (Metabolic Equivalent of Task - minutes per week, or MET-min/week) calculated by multiplying duration, frequency, and standard MET intensity values for each activity type. It can also be categorized into low, moderate, and high physical activity levels based on specific criteria related to frequency, duration, and total MET-min/week.	Preoperative
Surgeon well-being and quality of life (SF36 Health and Wellbeing Questionnaire)	This assesses the surgeon's health-related quality of life across eight dimensions: Physical Functioning, Role Limitations due to Physical Health Problems, Bodily Pain, General Health Perceptions, Vitality (energy/fatigue), Social Functioning, Role Limitations due to Emotional Problems,1 and Mental Health (emotional well-being). This yields eight scaled scores ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health status in each dimension. Scoring involves recoding items, summing within scales, and then transforming to the standardized range using specific algorithms. Summary scores (PCS and MCS) can also be calculated.	Preoperative
Maximal Voluntary Contraction measured using EMG (mV)	This will take place with the surgeon producing the a maximal contraction for both their forearm muscles and neck muscles in to create a baseline of comparison to calculate the percentage of maximal contraction that the surgeons experience during surgery.	Intraoperative
Average sternocleidomastoid and forearm muscle EMG amplitude (mV)	This will be measured using EMG at clinically significant points in the surgery. This will allow for the researchers to assess the muscular demand and the amplitude and frequency of the EMG signal are the direct measures used to quantify this primary variable. Lower amplitude means a greater muscular demand.	Intraoperative
Average sternocleidomastoid and forearm muscle EMG frequency (Hz).	This will be measured using EMG at clinically significant points in the surgery. This will allow for the researchers to assess the muscular demand and the amplitude and frequency of the EMG signal are the direct measures used to quantify this primary variable. Higher frequency means greater muscular demand.	Intraoperative
Surgeon musculoskeletal health over the last 12 months (Standardized Nordic Questionnaire)	This questionnaire assesses musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by the surgeons within the last 12 months. It helps to understand the prevalence and location of pain and discomfort before they participate in the study. This questionnaire primarily yields categorical data. For each of the nine body regions (neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows, low back, wrists/hands, hips/thighs, knees, ankles/feet), it asks about trouble (ache, pain, discomfort) in the past 12 months and in the past 7 days. It also asks if the trouble prevented normal work (at home or away from home).	Any time between enrolment in the study and the date of the surgical procedure that the data collection will take place.
Acute muscle activation- percentage of sternocleidomastoid maximal voluntary contraction (%) assesed using EMG frequency.	This outcome measures the immediate impact of RALS and LS on the surgeon's sternocleidomastoid muscles during a single surgical procedure. It will be quantified by assessing the change in electromyography (EMG) frequency and amplitude recorded during clinically important surgical tasks within the surgeons' first surgery of the day. The contributing measures to this primary measure are the maximal voluntary contraction that will be assessed just before the surgery begins, and the average frequency of muscle activation (mV) over the 2 minute data collection period. Muscle activation for RALS and LS will be compared using this measure.	Intraoperative

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Lancaster University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 6, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 8, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): September 8, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 23, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 15, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): May 18, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 26, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 22, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: fatigue; Robotic surgery; EMG; Laparoscopic; Surgeon wellbeing
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Fatigue
• Other Study ID Numbers: FHM-2025-4948-IRAS-2

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED
• IPD Plan Description: Only IPD in the published results will potentially be included.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No