Shear-wave elastography of the upper trapezius in office workers with chronic neck pain: Associations with pain-related neck disability, fear-avoidance beliefs, and work ability.

PURPOSE: This study compared upper trapezius (UT) muscle stiffness between office workers with and without chronic neck pain using shear-wave elastography (SWE), and investigated the relationship between UT muscle stiffness, pain-related neck disability, fear-avoidance beliefs, and work ability.

METHODS

Eighty-eight office workers (66 individuals with chronic neck pain and 22 healthy controls, mean age = 32.7 ± 8.3 years) participated in this study. UT muscle stiffness was measured using SWE. The Neck Disability Index (NDI), Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ), and Work Ability Index (WAI) were also assessed.

RESULTS

Office workers with chronic neck pain exhibited significantly higher UT shear modulus compared to healthy controls (p < .001). UT shear modulus was positively correlated with NDI (rs = 0.472, p < .001) and FABQ score (rs = 0.350, p = .001), and negatively correlated with WAI (rs = -0.330, p = .002).

CONCLUSION

Increased UT muscle stiffness is associated with greater neck disability, higher fear-avoidance beliefs, and reduced work ability. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both the mechanical properties of the UT muscle and psychosocial factors in the management of chronic neck pain, and this warrants further research and investigation. and warrant further research.