Continuous, intermitted and sporadic motor unit activity in the trapezius muscle during prolonged computer work

The Cinderella hypothesis postulates the continuous activity of specific motor units (MUs) during low-level muscle contraction. The MUs may become metabolically overloaded, with the subject developing muscle pain and strain. The hypothesis requires MUs that are active for a time long enough to actually damage muscle fibers. The aim of this study was to determine if there are continuously active MUs in the right trapezius muscle during normal computer work using a computer mouse. Fourteen healthy subjects executed an interactive computer-learning program (ErgoLight) for 30 min. Six-channel intramuscular EMG and two-channel surface EMG signals were recorded from two positions of the trapezius muscle. Decomposition was achieved with automated, multi-channel, long-term decomposition software (EMG-LODEC). In two out of the 14 subjects, three MUs were continuously active throughout the 30 min. Although the majority of the MUs were active during only part of the experimental session, an ordered on-off behavior (e.g. substitution) pattern was not observed. As long-lasting activity was verified in some subjects, the results support the Cinderella hypothesis. However, it cannot be concluded here how long the MUs could stay active. If continuous activity overloads low threshold MUs, the potential exists for selective fibre injuries in low threshold MUs of the trapezius muscle in subjects exposed to long-term computer work. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.