The Clinical journal of pain
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To apply topographical mapping of the electromyography (EMG) amplitude recorded from the upper trapezius muscle to evaluate the distribution of activity and the location of peak activity during a shoulder elevation task in participants with and without myofascial pain and myofascial trigger points (MTrP) and compare this location with the site of the MTrP. ⋯ People with myofascial pain and MTrP displayed a caudal shift of the distribution of upper trapezius muscle activity compared with asymptomatic individuals during a submaximal shoulder elevation task. For the first time, we show that the location of peak muscle activity is not associated with the location of the MTrP.
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Observational Study
The Association Between Chronic Pain and Cardiac Disease: A Cross-sectional Population Study.
Chronic pain may increase the risk of cardiac disease, but the extent to which confounding variables account for this association has yet to be satisfactorily established. This study aims to examine the possibility of an independent association between these 2 variables. ⋯ Patients reporting chronic pain, in particular those most severely affected, may be at significantly increased risk of cardiac disease. Future studies should focus on determining whether reducing the impact of chronic pain can improve cardiac health.