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This study compares myoelectric manifestations of fatigue of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and anterior scalene (AS) muscles between 10 chronic neck pain subjects and 10 normal matched controls.

Surface electromyography (sEMG) signals were recorded from the sternal head of SCM and AS muscles bilaterally during sub-maximal isometric cervical flexion contractions at 25 and 50% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The mean frequency, average rectified value and conduction velocity of the sEMG signal were calculated to quantify myoelectric manifestations of muscle fatigue.

For both the SCM and AS muscles, the Mann–Whitney U test indicated that the initial value and slope of the mean frequency in neck pain patients were greater than in healthy subjects (P<0.05). This was significant both at 25 and 50% of MVC.

These results suggest: (a) a predominance …