Physiological and psychological mechanisms in repetitive strain injuries

I received my PhD in 2002 with a thesis on how inflammatory substances in muscles and joints and the autonomic nervous system can affect the reflex regulation of the muscle coils. The work was focused on muscles and joints in the neck. After the dissertation, the research has continued to investigate the mechanisms underlying work-related problems in neck muscles. Above all, by investigating what happens biochemically in the muscles during pain and strain. I work a lot with multivariate data analysis to find substances that characterize muscles with pain and that can describe the biochemical processes in the muscles in the development of work-related disorders.

Previous research has shown that certain substances injected into muscles can affect the control of the muscle. By testing different substances experimentally and measuring individual substances in the muscle during pain or exposure to known risk factors for work-related muscle pain, we have found clues about which mechanisms may be important. These substances are not specific enough or have sufficient sensitivity to distinguish individuals with complaints or exposure to risk factors. To do this, further knowledge of the mechanisms and a broader approach are needed.

Current research interests

Exposure to repetitive work and locked work postures are strong risk factors for developing work-related neck pain. The underlying mechanisms of how risk factors lead to pain are still unknown. This leads to difficulties in objectively describing work-related neck pain and in clarifying associations between physiological responses and exposures.

The use of biomarkers is one way to objectively describe the mechanisms. In my research, different chemical analysis methods are used in combination with advanced statistical methods to investigate more than a thousand substances in the muscle - both small substances like metabolites and larger proteins.

Key words

Pain, myalgia, inflammation, motor, sensory, motor control

Current projects

Biochemical properties of the trapezius muscle
Responsible: Fredrik Hellström

Multivariate modeling of trapezius muscle proteins related to myalgia
Responsible: Fredrik Hellström

Metabolic profiles in blood and microdialysis samples in work-related muscle pain
Responsible: Fredrik Hellström

Studies in neck muscles of the stress regulatory system, inflammation and blood flow in repetitive arm work, focusing on gender, age and work-related muscle pain
Responsible: Albert Crenshaw

Rehabilitation for women with neck pain: Effects of individualized rehabilitation based on prognostic indicators and functional testing
Responsible: Martin Björklund

Collaboration

Biochemical properties of the trapezius muscle

Collaboration partners

  • Professor Fatima Pedros-Domellöf Anatomy, Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University
  • Christer Malm, Sports Medicine, Department of Perioperative Science, Umeå University

Multivariate modeling of trapezius muscle proteins related to myalgia

Collaborators:

  • Professor Fatima Pedros-Domellöf Anatomy, Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University
  • Christer Malm, Sports Medicine, Department of Perioperative Science, Umeå University
  • Björn Gerdle, Britt Larsson, Bijar Gahfuri all Linköping University

Biomarkers in blood and microdialysis samples in work-related muscle pain

Collaborators:

  • Björn Gerdle, Britt Larsson, Bijar Gafhouri, Linköping University
  • Henrik Antti, Department of Chemistry, Umeå University
  • Martin Fahlström, Community and Rehabilitation Medicine, Norrland University Hospital