Atividade muscular das regiões do pescoço e dorso, associada à dor musculoesquelética em estudantes universitários em contexto de ensino remoto

Abstract

Introduction: Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is associated with alterations in muscle function and may be related to postural and ergonomic demands imposed by academic activities. Objectives: This study aims to analyze the electromyographic activity of the cervical and lumbar regions in Nursing students with and without MSP and to correlate early and final academic activities of the course with MSP. Methodology: Thirty female students aged between 18 and 30 years were divided into four groups according to the year of the course: G1w/oP (1st year, without MSP, n=10), G1wP (1st year, with MSP, n=10), G5w/oP (5th year, without MSP, n=5), and G5wP (5th year, with MSP, n=5). Electromyographic activity of the trapezius and erector spinae muscles, bilaterally, was recorded during shoulder elevation and trunk extension, respectively, using surface electrodes and analyzed through the root mean square (RMS). Comparisons were performed between groups (G1 and G5) and between students with and without pain using Student’s t-test. Results: The mean normalized RMS (RMSn) values obtained from the trapezius and erector spinae muscles showed no statistically significant differences between G1 and G5, regardless of pain status or body side. However, slightly higher RMSn values were observed in fifth-year students with pain. Conclusions: Under the conditions evaluated, early and final academic activities were not associated with significant changes in the electromyographic activity of the upper trapezius and erector spinae muscles, regardless of the presence of MSP.