A Neurophysiological Pattern as a Precursor of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Using EEG Combined with EMG

Colince Meli Segning, Hassan Ezzaidi, Rubens A da Silva, Suzy Ngomo, Colince Meli Segning, Hassan Ezzaidi, Rubens A da Silva, Suzy Ngomo

Abstract

We aimed to determine the neurophysiological pattern that is associated with the development of musculoskeletal pain that is induced by biomechanical constraints. Twelve (12) young healthy volunteers (two females) performed two experimental realistic manual tasks for 30 min each: (1) with the high risk of musculoskeletal pain development and (2) with low risk for pain development. During the tasks, synchronized electroencephalographic (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) signals data were collected, as well as pain scores. Subsequently, two main variables were computed from neurophysiological signals: (1) cortical inhibition as Task-Related Power Increase (TRPI) in beta EEG frequency band (β.TRPI) and (2) muscle variability as Coefficient of Variation (CoV) from EMG signals. A strong effect size was observed for pain measurement under the high risk condition during the last 5 min of the task execution; with muscle fatigue, because the CoV has decreased below 18%. An increase in cortical inhibition (β.TRPI >50%) was observed after the 5th min of the task in both experimental conditions. These results suggest the following neurophysiological pattern-β.TRPI ≥ 50% and CoV ≤ 18%-as a possible indicator to monitor the development of musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder in the context of repeated and prolonged exposure to manual tasks.

Keywords: EEG; EMG; manual task; musculoskeletal disorders; pain; β.TRPI.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart diagram of offline electroencephalographic (EEG) preprocessing and Task-Related Power Decrease/Increase in beta frequency band (β.TRPD/TRPI estimation in Matlab software.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flowchart diagram of EMG preprocessing and Coefficient of Variation (CoV) estimation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of mean pain score between both experimental task conditions (LR: Low Risk and HR: High risk) across the 30-min time (t0: baseline measure, before starting each task, t5, t10, t15, t20, t25, and t30: at the end of tasks). Significant differences are marked with asterisk: (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, and *** p < 0.001). ES = effect size of conditions on pain intensity.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Comparison of the average of the normalized EMG PSD for all participants between both experimental task conditions (LR: Low Risk and HR: High risk). ∆ indicates the percentage of difference between both experimental task conditions.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Comparison of the muscle variability for all participants between both experimental task conditions (LR: Low Risk and HR: High risk). ∆ represents the percentage of difference between both experimental task conditions.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Comparison of the cortical inhibition of all participants between both experimental task conditions (LR: Low Risk and HR: High risk). ∆ indicates the percentage of difference between both experimental task conditions. *** Indicates statistical differences (p < 0.001).

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