Female employees with MEK162 in vivo neck pain have also shown to have less muscle rest during work (Hagg and Astrom 1997; Sandsjö

et al. 2000). Furthermore, prospective results have shown that perception of muscle tension is a strong risk factor to develop neck pain (Wahlström et al. 2004). Myofeedback of muscular tension may lead to decreased muscle activation and decreased pain. A selleck products method for myofeedback was developed within the “Neuromuscular Assessment in the Elderly Worker” (NEW) project (Hermens and Hutten 2002; Voerman et al. 2007). The myofeedback in this case indicates when the upper part of the trapezius has not had enough time for rest. There are studies that confirm that muscle activation patterns are of importance for developing neck pain. One prospective study found an association between pain in the neck area and a reduction in myoelectric rest periods in the trapezius muscle among female workers (Veiersted and Westgaard 1993). Whether work ability will increase due to myofeedback training is not known. An established treatment of non-specific pain in neck is strength training (Hartigan et al. 1996; Hurwitz et al. 2008). Composite observations and empirical findings guided our hypothesis of that intensive muscular strength training

could lead to decreased muscle activation (Sales 1987; Streepey et al. 2010). Earlier studies have reported associations between intensive muscular strength training and a prolonged relief check details from neck muscle pain (Andersen et al. 2008a). Moreover, that specific strength training was related to an increased activity level in the pain-inflicted muscle, leading to improved function and pain reduction (Andersen et al. 2008b). Intensive muscular strength training

has also been found to be related to an increased function through better nerve muscle coupling and reduced pain through activation of stretch receptors and the release of endorphins (Thoren et Arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase al. 1990; Kannus et al. 1992; Hagberg et al. 2000). Based on these results, it is also plausible that strength training may increase work ability by reducing persistent pain and increasing functional capacity among subjects with work-related neck pain. Whether the muscle activation pattern will change due to strength training has not been investigated in earlier studies, but our hypothesis is that changes in activation patterns of the muscles could be one of the mechanisms involved in the self-rated as well as observed increased muscle function. The overall aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) study was to investigate whether rehabilitation of female HSOs on long-term sick leave with chronic neck pain may be facilitated using interventions aimed at changing the activity in the trapezius muscle. A primary aim was to test whether the interventions changed the activity in the trapezius muscle (reported elsewhere).