Effects of Shoulder Taping on Discomfort and Electromyographic Responses of the Neck While Texting on a Touchscreen Smartphone

BACKGROUND: Prolonged neck flexion during smartphone use is known as a factor of neck pain and alteration of neck muscle activity. Studies on the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort and neck muscle responses while texting on a smartphone are still lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of shoulder taping on neck discomfort using a numerical rating scale, and neck muscle activity and fatigue using a surface electromyography during a texting task on a touchscreen smartphone. METHODS: Twenty-five healthy adolescents used the dominant hand to perform a 30-minute texting task using a touchscreen smartphone at two separate times under one of the following two conditions: taping across the upper trapezius muscle and no taping. Neck discomfort, normalized root mean square, and normalized median frequency slopes for upper trapezius, cervical erector spinae, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were recorded. RESULTS: The results revealed that shoulder taping provided significantly lower neck discomfort than no taping (p < 0.001). However, shoulder taping did not significantly alter normalized root mean square and normalized median frequency slope values of all muscles when compared with no taping controls. CONCLUSION: Shoulder taping reduces neck discomfort but does not affect neck muscle activity and fatigue while texting on a touchscreen smartphone.

The effects of early neck isometrics exercise on neck discomfort in patients underwent cerebellopontine angle surgeries / 中华护理杂志

Objective To evaluate the effects of early neck isometrics exercise on relieving neck discomfort in patients after cerebellopontine angle surgeries.Methods The non-synchronous control study was conducted.The control group(40 patients recruited from March to June,2017) received routine nursing,while the intervention group (40 patients recruited from July to November,2017) performed early neck isometrics exercise in addition to routine nursing.Neck discomfort degree,neck rotation range,and Barthel score were measured and compared between two groups on Day 1,Day 3,Day 5,and Day 7 after surgeries.Results The intervention group had a high level of participation and no adverse events occurred.Neck discomfort degree of the intervention group was significantly lower than that of the control group on Day 1,Day 3,and Day 5(P＜0.05).Neck rotation range of the intervention group was improved on Day 1 and Day 3 compared with the control group(P＜0.05).Barthel score of the intervention group on Day 3,Day 5 and Day 7 was significantly better than that of the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Early neck isometrics exercise in patients underwent cerebellopontine angle surgeries is safe and feasible,which can alleviate discomfort of neck,and improve patients' early postoperative experience and quality of life.

Postoperative Adhesion after Thyroid Surgery / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Postoperative adhesion after thyroidectomy results in neck discomfort and swallowing difficulty. However, risk factors for adhesive symptom after thyroidectomy have not been well studied. This study evaluated symptoms related to postoperative adhesion after thyroidectomy. METHODS: The Glasgow-Edinburgh Throat Scale (GETS) questionnaire was used to evaluate postoperative adhesion. Patients who completed the GETS questionnaire either pre- or post-operatively were enrolled. Patient clinical and pathological details including age, gender, body weight, body mass index (BMI), tumor size, thyroid volume, extent of thyroidectomy, postoperative months, and neck thickness on ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) were abstracted. RESULTS: Twenty-eight preoperative (22 females, six males) and 101 postoperative (83 females, 18 males) patients were enrolled. The mean age of the pre-operative enrollees was 52.1±11.7, and of post-operative enrollees 51.8±12.4 years. Patients who were within one month post-surgery had higher GETS scores than preoperative patients (27.4±20.1 vs. 6.5±11.1, P<0.001). Two months after surgery, GETS scores of postoperative patients did not differ significantly from the scores of the preoperative patients. There were no significant associations between clinical and pathologic features (age, tumor size, BMI, neck thickness on ultrasonography and CT) and GETS scores. CONCLUSION: Postoperative adhesive symptoms were most severe at one month after surgery, while questionnaire scores two months after surgery were comparable with preoperative patients. Further studies will be required for better understanding of the natural course of postoperative adhesion after thyroidectomy.

Early Neck Exercises to Reduce Post-Thyroidectomy Syndrome after Uncomplicated Thyroid Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Study / 대한갑상선학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of early neck exercises to reduce post-thyroidectomy symptoms and syndromes for patients undergoing thyroid surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients who had undergone thyroid surgery were randomly assigned 1:1 to control (delayed exercise, initiating at postoperative 2 weeks) or early exercise group (initiating at postoperative 1 day). Questionnaire survey (voice, globus sense, neck discomfort, swallowing difficulty) and objective measurement (surgical wound adhesion, range of neck motion and scar scale) were performed at 2 weeks and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Compared to control, early exercise significantly decreased the degree of neck discomfort at 2 weeks after thyroid surgery (p=0.037) while other subjective symptoms including voice change, globus sense, and swallowing difficulty were not significantly different between the two groups. The degree of surgical wound adhesion was significantly decreased (p<0.001) and the range of motion was improved in early exercise group (p=0.010). In addition, the objective scores of Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) were decreased in early exercise group compared to those of control group (p=0.020). CONCLUSION: Early neck exercises are safe and effective to reduce postoperative neck discomfort, wound adhesion, or hypertrophy of scar and to improve the range of motion in patients undergoing thyroid surgery.

Antiadhesive effect and safety of oxidized regenerated cellulose after thyroidectomy: a prospective, randomized controlled study / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the antiadhesive effects and safety of an oxidized regenerated cellulose (Interceed) after thyroidectomy. METHODS: Seventy-six thyroidectomized patients were prospectively randomized into two groups with regard to the use of Interceed. We evaluated each group for their adhesive symptoms using four subjective and four objective items at the 2nd week, 3rd and 6th month after thyroidectomy. All patients were examined for vocal cord motility by indirect laryngoscope at each period. RESULTS: Total adhesion scores at each postoperative follow-up period decreased with time, but were not significantly different in each group. The median score for swallowing discomfort for liquid was significantly lower in the Interceed group than in the control group 2 weeks after surgery. In addition, the severity of skin adhesion to the trachea was reduced in the Interceed group compared with the control group 6 months after surgery. During the study, there were no adverse effects or significant differences in postoperative complications between the groups. CONCLUSION: Interceed appeared to be safe and effective in improving neck discomfort at early postoperative periods and preventing skin adhesion to the trachea 6 months after thyroidectomy.