Lesiones musculoesqueléticas no específicas de la musculatura proximal del miembro superior en el personal sanitarioun análisis de la presencia de puntos gatillo

Abstract

High labor demands in hospitals are associated to muscle pain, hyperalgesia, functional restrictions and behavioral disorders accompanied by muscle injuries. However, most of the research has focused on evaluating ergonomics, stress and workload. Objectives To determine how many workers in a hospital showed non-specific musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) confirmed by the presence of Trigger Points (TrPs); to establish the most affected muscles (i. e., sternocleidomastoid, levator scapula, trapeze, infraspinatus, teres minor) by pain according to the side (left or right); and to identify the pain behavior assumed. Material and method A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Loire VendéeOcéan Hospital, France. The pressure pain threshold measured by algometry was bilaterally compared and evaluated in the proximal upper limb muscles (PULM). Pain behavior was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Results 21 women suffered from non-specific MSDs in PULM, confirmed by TrPs. The pressure pain threshold at the sternocleidomastoid was significant and bilaterally lower compared to other muscles (F4,200=48.879; P<.01). Self-medication for pain relief was frequent in 61.90% of patients. Conclusions Implementation of active break-time programs aimed to specific muscular groups is required to reduce the risk musculoskeletal disorders in the PULM in the hospital setting. Future studies could investigate if the increased pain in the sternocleidomastoid may be explained by short episodes of low-amplitude but long-duration contractions.