A critical review on physical factors and functional characteristics that may explain a sex/gender difference in work-related neck/shoulder disorders

Ergonomics

Volumn 55, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 173-182

  Côté, Julie N ^a  

^a MCGILL UNIVERSITY   (Canada)

Author keywords

fatigue; neck shoulder musculoskeletal disorders; physical capacity; sex gender differences

Indexed keywords

CONCEPTUAL MODEL; CRITICAL REVIEW; FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS; MOTOR CONTROL; MUSCLE COORDINATION; MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS; MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES; NECK/SHOULDER; PHYSICAL CAPACITY; PHYSICAL FACTORS; SEX/GENDER DIFFERENCES; UPPER LIMBS; WORK-RELATED;

ERGONOMICS; FATIGUE OF MATERIALS; PHYSICAL THERAPY;

DISEASES;

FEMALE; HUMAN; INJURY; MALE; MUSCLE FATIGUE; MUSCLE STRENGTH; MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN; NECK INJURY; NECK PAIN; OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENT; OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE; PATHOPHYSIOLOGY; PHYSIOLOGY; REVIEW; RISK FACTOR; SEX DIFFERENCE; SHOULDER;

FEMALE; HUMANS; MALE; MUSCLE FATIGUE; MUSCLE STRENGTH; MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN; NECK INJURIES; NECK PAIN; OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES; OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES; RISK FACTORS; SEX FACTORS; SHOULDER JOINT;

EID: 84856959828     PISSN: 00140139     EISSN: 13665847     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2011.586061     Document Type: Review

References (90)

1. Anders, C. 2004. Activation of shoulder muscles in healthy men and women under isometric conditions. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 14: 699-707.
2. Andersen, L. L. 2008. Increased proportion of megafibers in chronically painful muscles. Pain, 139(3): 588-593.
3. Bawa, P. and Murnaghan, C. 2009. Motor unit rotation in a variety of human muscles. Journal of Neurophysiology, 102: 2265-2272.
4. Bernades, S. F., Keogh, E. and Lima, M. L. 2008. Bridging the gap between pain and gender research: a selective literature review. European Journal of Pain, 12: 427-440.
5. Blangsted, A. K., Hansen, K. and Jensen, C. 2003. Muscle activity during computer-based office work in relation to self-reported job demands and gender. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 89(3-4): 352-358.
6. Blangsted, A. K. 2005. Intramuscular pressure and tissue oxygenation during low force static contraction do not underlie muscle fatigue. Acta Physiologica Scandinavia, 183: 379-388.
7. Burgess, K. E., Graham-Smith, P. and Pearson, S. J. 2009. Effect of acute tensile loading on gender-specific tendon structural and mechanical properties. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 27(4): 510-516.
8. Chiu, T. T., Lam, T. H. and Hedley, A. J. 2002. Maximal isometric muscle strength of the cervical spine in healthy volunteers. Clinical Rehabilitation, 16: 772-779.
9. Clark, B. C. 2003. Gender differences in skeletal muscle fatigability are related to contraction type and EMG spectral compression. Journal of Applied Physiology, 94: 2263-2272.
10. Dempsey, P. G., Burdof, A. and Webster, B. S. 1997. The influence of personal variables on work-related low-back disorders and implications for future research. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 39(8): 748-759.
11. de Goede, M. and Postma, A. 2008. Gender differences in memory for objects and their locations: a study on automatic versus controlled encoding and retrieval contexts. Brain and Cognition, 66(3): 232-242.
12. Demura, S., Nakada, M. and Nagasawa, Y. 2008. Gender difference in subjective muscle-fatigue sensation during sustained muscle force exertion. The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 215(3): 287-294.
13. Ditor, D. S. and Hicks, A. L. 2000. The effect of age and gender on the relative fatigability of the human adductor pollicis muscle. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 78: 781-790.
14. Doriot, N. and Wang, X. 2006. Effects of age and gender on maximum voluntary range of motion of the upper body joints. Ergonomics, 49(3): 269-281.
15. Esmail, S., Bhambhani, Y. and Brintnell, S. 1995. Gender differences in work performance on the Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment work simulator. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49(5): 405-411.
16. Faber, A., Hansen, K. and Christensen, H. 2006. Muscle strength and aerobic capacity in a representative sample of employees with and without repetitive monotonous work. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 79(1): 33-41.
17. Falla, D., Arendt-Nielsen, L. and Farina, D. 2008. Gender-specific adaptations of upper trapezius muscle activity to acute nociceptive stimulation. Pain, 138(1): 217-225.
18. Fillingim, R. B. 2009. Sex, gender and pain: a review of recent clinical and experimental findings. Journal of Pain, 10(5): 447-485.
19. Fulco, C. S. 1999. Slower fatigue and faster recovery of the adductor pollicis muscle in women matched for strength with men. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 167: 233-239.
20. Fuller, J. R. 2009. Posture-movement changes following repetitive motion-induced shoulder muscle fatigue. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 19(6): 1043-1052.
21. Ge, H. Y. 2005. Gender-specific differences in electromyographic changes and perceived pain induced by experimental muscle pain sustained contractions of the upper trapezius muscle. Muscle Nerve, 32(6): 726-733.
22. Hägg, G. 1991. "Static work loads and occupational myalgia - a new explanation model". In Electromyographical kinesiology, Edited by: Anderson, P. A., Hobart, D. J. and Danhoff, J. V. 141-144. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers.
23. Hashimi, J. A. and Davis, K. D. 2009. Women experience greater heat pain adaptation and habituation than men. Pain, 145: 350-357.
24. Haward, B. M. and Griffin, M. J. 2002. Repeatability of grip strength and dexterity tests and the effects of age and gender. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 75(1-2): 111-119.
25. Henneman, E. 1957. Relation between size of neurons and their susceptibility to discharge. Science, 126: 1345-1347.
26. Hicks, A. L., Kent-Braun, J. A. and Ditor, D. S. 2001. Sex differences in human skeletal muscle fatigue. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 29: 109-112.
27. Holtermann, A. 2009. What characterizes cleaners sustaining a good musculoskeletal health after years with physically heavy work?. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 82(8): 1015-1022.
28. Hooftman, W. E. 2009. Is there a gender difference in the effect of work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors on musculoskeletal symptoms and related sickness absence?. Scandinavian Journal of Work,Environment & Health, 35(2): 85-95.
29. Hunter, S. K. 2009. Sex differences and mechanisms of task-specific muscle fatigue. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 37(3): 113-122.
30. Hunter, S. K., Critchlow, A. and Enoka, R. M. 2004a. Influence of aging on sex differences in muscle fatigability. Journal of Applied Physiology, 97: 1723-1732.
31. Hunter, S. K., Duchateau, J. and Enoka, R M. 2004b. Muscle fatigue and the mechanisms of task failure. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 32: 44-49.
32. Hunter, S. K. 2004c. Fatigability of the elbow flexor muscles for sustained submaximal contraction is similar in men and women matched for strength. Journal of Applied Physiology, 96: 195-202.
33. Hunter, S. K. 2006. Supraspinal fatigue does not explain the sex difference in muscle fatigue of maximal contractions. Journal of Applied Physiology, 101: 1036-1044.
34. Hurley, R. W. and Adams, M. C.B. 2008. Sex, gender and pain: an overview of a complex field. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 107: 309-317.
35. Jaworowski, A. 2002. Enzyme activities in the tibialis anterior muscle of young moderately active men and women: relationship with body composition, muscle cross-sectional area and fibre type composition. Acta Physiologica Scandinavia, 176(3): 215-225.
36. Jensen, B. R., Laursen, B. and Sjøgaard, G. 2000. Aspects of shoulder function in relation to exposure demands and fatigue - a mini review. Clinical Biomechanics, 15(Supp. 1): 17-20.
37. Jones, C. M. and Healy, S. D. Differences in cue use and spatial memory in men and women. Proceedings: Biological Sciences. Vol. 273 (1598), pp.2241-2247.
38. Juul-Kristensen, B. and Jensen, C. 2005. Self-reported workplace related ergonomic conditions as prognostic factors for musculoskeletal symptoms: the 'BIT' follow-up study on office workers. Occupational and Environmental Health, 62: 188-194.
39. Juul-Kristensen, B. 2004. Computer users' risk factors for developing shoulder, elbow and back symptoms. Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment and Health, 30(5): 390-396.
40. Krantz, G., Forsman, M. and Lundberg, U. 2004. Consistency in physiological stress responses and electromyographic activity during induced stress exposure in women and men. Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science, 39(2): 105-118.
41. Kroemer, K., Kroemer, H. and Kroemer-Elbert, K. 2001. How to design for ease and efficiency, 2nd edn, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
42. Larsson, B., Søgaard, K. and Rosendal, L. 2007. Work related neck-shoulder pain; a review on magnitude, risk factors, biochemical characteristics, clinical picture and preventive interventions. Best Practice & Research. Clinical Rheumatology, 21(3): 447-463.
43. Latash, M. L., Scholz, J. P. and Schoner, G. 2002. Motor control strategies revealed in the structure of motor variability. Exercise and Sport Science Reviews, 30: 26-31.
44. Lejbak, L., Vrbancic, M. and Crossley, M. 2009. The female advantage in object location memory is robust to verbalizability and mode of presentation of test stimuli. Brain and Cognition, 69(1): 148-153.
45. Lexell, J. 1993. Ageing and human muscle: observations from Sweden. Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology, 18(1): 2-18.
46. Lindman, R., Eriksson, A. and Thornell, L. E. 1991. Fiber type composition of the human female trapezius muscle: enzyme-histochemical characteristics. American Journal of Anatomy, 190(4): 385-392.
47. Lomond, K. V. and Côté, J. N. 2010. Movement timing and reach to reach variability during a repetitive reaching task in persons with chronic neck/shoulder pain and healthy subjects. Experimental Brain Research, 206(3): 271-282.
48. Lomond, K. V. and Côté, J. N. 2011. Differences in posture-movement changes induced by repetitive arm motion in healthy and shoulder-injured individuals. Clinical Biomechanics, 26(2): 123-129.
49. Lund, J. P. 1991. The pain-adaptation model: a discussion of the relationship between chronic musculoskeletal pain and motor activity. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 69(5): 683-694.
50. Madeleine, P. 1999. Shoulder muscle co-ordination during chronic and acute experimental neck-shoulder pain. An occupational pain study. European Journal of Applied Physiology & Occupational Physiology, 79: 127-140.
51. Madeleine, P., Mathiassen, S. E. and Arendt-Nielsen, L. 2008a. Changes in the degree of motor variability associated with experimental and chronic neck-shoulder pain during a standardised repetitive arm movement. Experimental Brain Research, 185: 689-698.
52. Madeleine, P., Voigt, M. and Mathiassen, S. E. 2008b. The size of cycle-to-cycle variability in biomechanical exposure among butchers performing a standardised cutting task. Ergonomics, 51: 1078-1095.
53. Mannion, A. F. 1997. Muscle fibre size and type distribution in thoracic and lumbar regions of erector spinae in healthy subjects without low back pain: normal values and sex differences. Journal of Anatomy, 190: 505-513.
54. Mathiassen, S. E., Moller, T. and Forsman, M. 2003. Variability in mechanical exposure within and between individuals performing a highly constrained industrial work task. Ergonomics, 46: 800-824.
55. Mekarski, J. E., Cutmore, T. R. and Suboski, W. 1996. Gender differences during processing of the Stroop task. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 83(2): 563-568.
56. Messing, K., Stock, S. R. and Tissot, F. 2009. Should studies of risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders be stratified by gender? Lessons from the 1998 Quebec Health and Social Survey. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 35(2): 96-112.
57. Mitchell, J. H. 1990. Wolffe Memorial Lecture: neural control of the circulation during exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 22(2): 141-154.
58. Mogk, J. P. and Keir, P. J. 2003. The effects of posture on forearm muscle loading during gripping. Ergonomics, 46(9): 956-975.
59. Moseley, G. L. and Hodges, P. W. 2006. Reduced variability of postural strategy prevents normalization of motor changes induced by back pain: a risk factor for chronic trouble?. Behavioral Neuroscience, 120: 474-476.
60. Mottram, C. J. 2006. Time to task failure varies with the gain of the feedback signal for women, but not for men. Experimental Brain Research, 174: 575-587.
61. Nordander, C. 2008. Gender differences in workers with identical repetitive industrial tasks: exposure and musculoskeletal disorders. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 81(8): 939-947.
62. Ostergren, P. O. 2005. Incidence of shoulder and neck pain in a working population: effect modification between mechanical and psychosocial exposures at work? Results from a one year follow up of the Malmö shoulder and neck study cohort. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 59(9): 721-728.
63. Palmerud, G. 1995. Voluntary redistribution of muscle activity in human shoulder muscles. Ergonomics, 38: 806-815.
64. Pearson, I. 2009. Maximal voluntary isometric neck strength deficits in adults with whiplash-associated disorders and association with pain and fear of movement. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 39(3): 179-187.
65. Peharec, S. 2007. Kinematic measurement of the lumbar spine and pelvis in the normal population. Collegium Antropologicum, 31(4): 1039-1042.
66. Rivest, K. 2010. Relationships between pain thresholds, catastrophizing and gender in acute whiplash injury. Manual Therapy, 15(2): 154-159.
67. Rodrigues, P. C. 2009. Manual asymmetry in a complex coincidence-anticipation task: handedness and gender effects. Laterality, 14(4): 395-412.
68. 2AMPK activation and lower energy charge and fat oxidation in men than in women during submaximal exercise. Journal of Physiology, 574.1: 125-138.
69. Rohr, L. E. 2006. Gender-specific movement strategies using a computer-pointing task. Journal of Motor Behavior, 38(6): 431-437.
70. Rosendal, L. 2004. Increase in muscle nociceptive substances and anaerobic metabolism in patients with trapezius myalgia: microdialysis in rest and during exercise. Pain, 112(3): 324-334.
71. Roy, J. S. 2009. Rotational strength, range of motion and function in people with unaffected shoulders from various stages of life. Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Rehabilitation, Therapy & Technology, 2: 1-4.
72. Russ, D. W. and Kent-Braun, J. A. 2003. Sex differences in human skeletal muscle fatigue are eliminated under ischemic conditions. Journal of Applied Physiology, 94(6): 2414-2422.
73. Saucier, D. 2007. Female advantage for object location memory in peripersonal but not extrapersonal space. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 13(4): 683-686.
74. Simoneau, J. A. 1985. Skeletal muscle histochemical and biochemical characteristics in sedentary male and female subjects. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 63(1): 30-35.
75. Simoneau, J. A. and Bouchard, C. 1989. Human variation in skeletal muscle fiber-type proportion and enzyme activities. American Journal of Physiology, 257(4 Pt 1): E567-E572.
76. Sjøgaard, G. and Søgaard, K. 1998. Muscle injury in repetitive motion disorders. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 351: 21-31.
77. Sjøgaard, G. 2004. Intramuscular pressure and EMG relate during static contractions but dissociate with movement and fatigue. Journal of Applied Physiology, 96: 1522-1529.
78. Sjøgaard, G. 2006. Neuromuscular assessment in elderly workers with and without work related shoulder/neck trouble: the NEW-study design and physiological findings. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 96: 101-121.
79. Sormunen, E. 2009. Muscular activity and thermal responses in men and women during repetitive work in cold environments. Ergonomics, 52(8): 964-976.
80. Staron, R. S. 2000. Fiber type composition of the vastus lateralis muscle of young men and women. The Journal of Histochemistry & Cytochemistry, 48(5): 623-629.
81. Svendsen, J. H. and Madeleine, P. 2010. Amount and structure of force variability during short, ramp and sustained contractions in males and females. Human Movement Science, 29(1): 35-47.
82. Tornqvist, E. W. 2009. The influence of working conditions and individual factors on the incidence of neck and upper limb symptoms among professional computer users. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 82(6): 689-702.
83. van der Windt, D. 2000. Occupational risk factors for shoulder pain: a systematic review. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 57: 433-442.
84. Vasavada, A. N., Danaraj, J. and Siegmund, G. P. 2008. Head and neck anthropometry, vertebral geometry and neck strength in height-matched men and women. Journal of Biomechanics, 41(1): 114-121.
85. Vernon, H. and Mior, S. 1991. The Neck Disability Index: a study of reliability and validity. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 14: 409-415.
86. Visser, B. and van Dieen, J H. 2006. Pathophysiology of upper extremity muscle disorders. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 16: 1-16.
87. Wahlstedt, K. 2010. Psychosocial and ergonomic factors and their relation to musculoskeletal complaints in the Swedish workforce. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 16(3): 311-321.
88. Won, E. J. 2009. Upper extremity biomechanics in computer tasks differ by gender. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 19(3): 428-436.
89. Wüst, R. C. 2008. Sex differences in contractile properties and fatigue resistance of human skeletal muscle. Experimental Physiology, 93(7): 843-850.
90. Yoon, T. 2007. Mechanisms of fatigue differ after low- and high-force fatiguing contractions in men and women. Muscle & Nerve, 36(4): 515-524.