ASSESSMENT OF THE UPPER TRAPEZIUS MUSCLE TEMPERATURE IN WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT NECK PAIN

Objective: The purpose of the study was to analyze the upper trapezius muscle temperature using thermography in women with and without neck pain. Methods: Thirty-six female university students were classified through the Neck Disability Index (NDI) into 2 groups: the neck pain group comprised 18 volunteers diagnosed with mild disability, and the control group, 18 healthy volunteers. All subjects were submitted to evaluation by thermography, which registered the skin surface temperature of the upper bilateral trapezius muscle. Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for the comparison between the groups, and the Spearman correlation coefficient was used for the appropriate correlations between the NDI score and the temperature values. A significance level of 5% was set. Results: No significant difference was found between the groups regarding the temperature values of the upper left (P = .565) and right (P = .917) trapezius muscles, as well as in comparisons of temperature asymmetry (P = .542). In addition, no significant association was found between the study variables (P > .05). Conclusion: Women with neck pain, diagnosed with mild disability by NDI, did not present with reduction or asymmetry of upper trapezius muscle temperature when compared with a group without neck pain. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2012;35:413-417)