An anomalous cleido-occipitalis muscle is an uncommon muscular variant in the posterior triangle that may be unilateral or bilateral. Its reported incidence varies widely between 4% and 33% [1-3]. Embryologically, this muscle originates from a common mixed premuscle mass in the occipital region caudal to the last brachial arch, which normally divides into ventral and dorsal components forming t...

[Purpose] This study was conducted to compare and analyze influence of craniocervical flexion and suboccipitalis relaxation in cervicogenic headache patients of their cervical muscular fatigue, tone, and headache intensity. [Subjects and Methods] 30 patients with cervicogenic headache were selected and 10 subjects per group were randomly assigned to control group, craniocervical flexion exercis...

OBJECTIVE To examine the test-retest repeatability of pressure pain thresholds in the shoulder muscles of healthy women. DESIGN Four experimental sessions (days 1, 3, 28, 30), each including 4 consecutive pressure pain threshold measurements at 10-minute intervals. SUBJECTS Twenty-four healthy female volunteers, mean age 42 years. METHODS Two examiners measured pressure pain thresholds bi...

PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the effect of elastic taping on kinematics, muscle activity and strength of the scapular region in baseball players with shoulder impingement. SCOPE Seventeen baseball players with shoulder impingement were recruited from three amateur baseball teams. All subjects received both the elastic taping (Kinesio Tex) and the placebo taping (3M Micropore tape) ...

In this study, we aimed to determine if electromyography (EMG) normalization to maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) was influenced by subacromial pain in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome. Patients performed MVICs in unique testing positions for each shoulder muscle tested before and after subacromial injection of local anesthetic. In addition to collection of MVIC data...

AIM This study investigates consequences of chronic neck pain on muscle function and the rehabilitating effects of contrasting interventions. METHODS Women with trapezius myalgia (MYA, n = 42) and healthy controls (CON, n = 20) participated in a case-control study. Subsequently MYA were randomized to 10 weeks of specific strength training (SST, n = 18), general fitness training (GFT, n = 16),...

BACKGROUND Neck pain is a frequent reason for seeking medical advice. Neuroanatomical findings suggest a close connection between the pharynx and the trapezius region. Irritation of the pharynx may induce tenderness of this area. Specific tender points, called neck reflex points (NRPs), can be identified here with high reproducibility. We hypothesized that therapeutic local anesthesia (TLA; or ...

Elevation of the skin along with its deep fascia vascular network is a recent facility for flap design. The longitudinal trapezius fasciocutaneous flap was first introduced in 1996; at that time it did not receive much attention, although it has many significant benefits compared with other available procedures. Sixteen trapezius fasciocutaneous flaps were elevated in 15 patients for reconstruc...

The communicating branch between the ventral rami of cervical nerves and the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) has been reported to also send motor fibers to supply the trapezius. However, the motor fiber type of the communicating branch and its peripheral distribution are still unclear. To determine the fiber elements within the branch and its peripheral distribution of the motor fibers in the trap...

Objectives: To investigate the biochemical milieu of the pper trapezius muscle in subjects with active, latent, or absent yofascial trigger points (MTPs) and to contrast this with that f the noninvolved gastrocnemius muscle. Design: We used a microanalytic technique, including neele insertions at standardized locations in subjects identified as ctive (having neck pain and MTP), latent (no neck ...