SCALENE MUSCLES MYOFASCIAL PATHOLOGY AMONG A NURSING HOME HEALTH STAFF

Abstract

Objectives: to determine the prevalence and characteristics associated with pain among a nursing home health staff. To investigate possible associations between pain and scalene myofascial pain syndrome. Material and methods: a descriptive, multivariate transversal study of a sample comprising 26 volunteers (23 nursing assistants (-NA-) and 3 nurses (-N-) from permanent health employees at the Fuentes Blancas Nursing Home for Disabled People (Burgos). Workers not on active service at the time of the study were excluded. Volunteers answered a questionnaire concerning presence, location and history of pain, age, sex and length of service. A systematic examination of the scalene muscles was carried out. This examination consisted of palpation of the scalene muscles and the scalene-cramp test. A descriptive analysis of data was carried out and possible associations between sex, age, length of service and history of pain were also analyzed. Results: a high prevalence of pain was found (82.6 % for the NA group and 100 % for the N group), mainly affecting upper back and arm areas (78.26 % for the NA group). There was a strong association between painful area size and the number of scalene muscles where active myofascial trig-ger points (MTrPs) were found [rxy = 0.66 (p = 0.0002)]. These two variables were also related to history of pain and female sex [rpb = 0.32 (p = 0.05) and rpb = 0.51 (p = 0.005), respectively]. Furthermore, history of pain was associated with length of service as a AE [rxy = 0.369 (p = 0.04)]. Conclusions: a relationship between upper back and arm pain suffered by sample subjects and existence of active and latent MTrPs in their scalene muscles was con-firmed (although other muscles were also involved). Some of the regular tasks that these workers carry out represent activation and perpetuating factors for MTrPs.