Visualization of chronic neck-shoulder pain: Impaired microcirculation in the upper trapezius muscle in chronic cervico-brachial pain

摘要

This study pertains to the 71 patients who had received a diagnosis of cervico-brachial pain syndrome after thorough clinical examination of a total series of 300 patients, who had been referred to the national Insurance Hospital in Tranas because of chronic neck pain that interfered with their ability to work. Changes in trapezius muscle blood flow and EMG were examined and related to the anamnesis and physical findings. The microcirculation in the upper part of the right an left trapezius muscles was examined simultaneously by using optical laser-Doppler single-fibres after insertion into the muscle directly via the skin.