The relationship between muscle hardness in the trapezius and subjective symptoms of shoulder discomfort in Japanese adults

摘要

The present study measures the thickness and the hardness of soft tissues in the shoulders of Japanese adults, and examines their relationship to subjective symptoms of shoulder discomfort. The thickness and hardness of soft shoulder tissues were measured in 212 volunteers aged between 18 and 79 using a new ultrasonic device. We also examined 149 responses to questions regarding degrees of shoulder discomfort. Subjective symptoms significantly differed according to age and gender, but were not associated with muscle hardness.