• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.398-400
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• 2023

The current case report describes an uncommon insertion of the levator scapulae (LS), which broadly attaches to multiple structures, including the serratus posterior superior, ligamentum nuchae, and the 6th and 7th spinous processes of the cervical vertebrae. The most superior portion of this aponeurosis merged with the ligamentum nuchae at the C7 level. The middle and inferior portions of the head were inserted (or fused) into the tendon of the rhomboid minor as well as the fibers of the serratus posterior superior muscle. Consequently, recognizing this anatomical variation, characterized by an additional slip of the LS attaching to the 7th vertebra and other muscular structures, is crucial not only for anatomists but also for surgeons performing procedures on the posterior neck related to cervical or shoulder pain and cervical dystonia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.239-248
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• 1992

Two hundred sisty five patients who complained of neck pain with stiffness and pain of the suprascapular area were studied. In most cases the anatomical locations of pain were in the levator scapulae muscles or trapezius muscles. Hyperactivity of dorsal scapular nerve or spinal accessory nerve which innervate those muscles was thought to be responsible for these pains. The hyperactivity of the nerves may be due to the spasm of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the scalenus medius muscle which the nerves meet during their courses to the levator scapulae or trapezius muscles. Therefore, spasmolytic treatment on the scalenus medius provided effective relief for neck or shoulder pain.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.21-22
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• 2008

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of shoulder exercise program for improving forward head posture. Method : Subjects were divided into two groups. The experimental group(15 people) participated in strength exercise and stretching exercise, three times every week, during 4 weeks. And the control group(the other 15 people) didn't participate in exercises. Exercise program was composed of strength exercise of middle and lower trapezius and stretching exercise of levator scapulae and upper trapezius. And then we measured cervical alignment with GPS and muscular activity by EMG. Result : The results of this study were as follows; 1. After the intervention, experimental group was significantly decreased in cervical alignment than control group(p<.05). 2. After the intervention, experimental group was significantly increased in middle lower trapezius musclar activity than control group(p<.05). Conclusion : Strength exercise of middle and lower trapezius and stretching exercise of levator scapulae and upper trapezius were considered a efficient for improving forward head posture.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.30-39
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• 2017

Background: Scapular posterior tilt (SPT) is important in the prevention of abnormal scapular movement and pain during elevation of the arm. However, previous studies have overlooked increased upper trapezius (UT) muscle activity interrupting the normal force couple of scapular motion and compensation of levator scapulae (LS) muscle activated simultaneously with UT during SPT exercise. Objects: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of modified SPT with depression exercise versus SPT exercise on serratus anterior (SA), lower trapezius (LT), UT, and LS muscle activities and the clavicular tilt angle, in subjects with rounded shoulder posture (RSP) and myofascial pain in the UT muscle region. Methods: Eighteen subjects with RSP were recruited and randomly allocated to 2 groups; 9 in the SPT group and 9 in the SPT with depression group. All subjects met the specific RSP criteria and had myofascial pain of UT region. Depending on the allocated group, subjects performed the assigned SPT exercise and EMG data were recorded during the each exercise. Clavicular tilt angle was defined as the angle between the line joining the medial and lateral end of the clavicle and a horizontal line. Results: The SA muscle activity was significantly greater in SPT with depression than with SPT exercise (p<.05). The UT, LS muscle activity and the clavicular tilt angle was significantly lower in SPT with depression than with SPT exercise (p<.05). Conclusion: These findings were insightful because the potential risk of pain from overactivation of the UT and LS was considered, in contrast with SPT exercise. SPT with depression exercise can be implemented as an effective method to facilitate scapular muscle activity for stability and to prevent myofascial pain in the neck and shoulder.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.403-414
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined how performing chin tuck exercises in supine, sitting, and standing positions affects changes in the muscle activity of the neck and shoulder. Methods: Seventeen men and three women with forward head posture participated in the study. The subjects performed the chin tuck exercise using a pressure biofeedback unit. After determining the ideal order for performing the chin tuck exercise in supine, sitting, and standing positions through randomized controlled trials, muscle activity was measured in the dominant-side sternocleidomastoid, scalenus anterior, upper trapezius, and levator scapulae. Muscle activity was measured three times in each muscle for each position, and the average of the three measurements was used for analysis. Results: In this study, the chin tuck exercise performed in a supine position reduced muscle activity of the sternocleidomastoid, scalenus anterior, upper trapezius, and levator scapulae significantly more than performing the exercise in either sitting or standing positions (p < 0.05). No significant difference in muscle activity was observed when the exercise was performed in a sitting position versus a standing position (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Performing a chin tuck exercise in a supine position is more effective for stabilizing the neck and shoulder than performing it in a sitting or standing position, as it reduces excessive tension and fatigue in the neck and shoulder.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.1485-1488
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• 2003

This paper proposes a wireless EMG-based human-computer interface (HCI) for persons with disabilities. For the HCI, four interaction commands are defined by combining three elevation motions of shoulders such as left, right and both elevations. The motions are recognized by comparing EMG signals on the Levator scapulae muscles with double thresholds. A real-time EMG processing hardware is implemented for acquiring EMG signals and recognizing the motions. To achieve real-time processing, filters such as high- and low-pass filter and band-pass and -rejection filter, and a full rectifier and a mean absolute value circuit are embedded on a board with a high speed microprocessor. The recognized results are transferred to a wireless client system such as a mobile robot via a Bluetooth module. From experimental results using the implemented real-time EMG processing hardware, the proposed wireless EMG-based HCI is feasible for the disabled.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2003.07c
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• pp.2729-2732
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• 2003

This paper proposes a real-time method to recognize shoulder elevation motions by comparing EMG signals on the Levator scapulae muscles with double threshold values. To achieve real-time, we implement a EMG signal processing hareware embedded band-rejection filter, low-pass filter, full rectifier and moving average circuits. And a high speed microprocessor is used for implementing the double thresholds method. The available shoulder motions for the human-computer interface are elevation of left, right and both shoulders. From experimental results we show that the proposed real-time processing hardware and double thresholds method are useful for the real-time EMG-based human-computer interface.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the optimal position among three manual muscle tested positions for upper trapezius in which to obtain an isolated upper trapezius EMG signal for the normalization of upper trapezius muscle EMG activity. A total of 28 healthy adult men participated in the experiment. The UT (upper trapezius) and LS (levator scapulae) muscle activities were measured using the TeleMyo 2400T and analyzed using MyoResearch software. The muscle activity of the US and LS was measured by performing three manual muscle test positions for the upper trapezius. The UT/LS ratio during the S-MVIC was 80.25 and was significantly higher than that during the T-MVIC (76.50; p = 0.011) and the C-MVIC (60.95; p < 0.001). And, the UT/LS ratio during the T-MVIC and was significantly higher than that during the C-MVIC (p < 0.001). Based on the results of present study, we suggest a switch from T-MVIC to S-MVIC for the independent normalization reliability of upper trapezius EMG activity. The UT muscle strength or normalization test using S-MVIC will be able to measure muscle strength or activity of UT compared to previous measurement methods.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.277-285
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of wearing Head-Mounted Display (HMD) on the cervical range of motion (CROM), neck muscle thickness, and pain in healthy young adults. The HMD group(male=16, female=7) was asked to perform sitting comfortably in a backless chair with hands on their knees with the HMD was worn on their heads to watch the video for 30 minutes. The control group(male=15, female=8) was asked to sit in the same posture as the HMD group for 30 minutes. CROM, neck muscle thickness, and pressure pain threshold (PPT) of both the upper trapezius and levator scapulae were measured before and after intervention. CROM and PPT of the upper trapezius and levator scapulae in the HMD group were significantly decreased and the thickness of the muscles in the HMD group were significantly increased more than in the pre-test (p<.05). There was no significant difference in CROM, muscle thickness, and PPT in the control group. Wearing HMD for a long time can cause a decrease in CROM and PPT and an increase in muscle thickness, and there is a risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders in the neck and shoulder. Therefore, this study recommends maintaining the correct posture of the neck and shoulder and using HMD only for an appropriate time.