Effect of Shaolin internal qigong exercise on the surface electromyography signals of shoulder muscle groups in patients with capsulitis of the shoulder

Abstract

Objective

To unveil the efficacy of Shaolin internal qigong exercise in treating capsulitis of the shoulder (CS) and explore objective outcome measures by observing the changes in the surface electromyography (sEMG) signals of shoulder muscle groups after regular practice of Shaolin internal qigong exercise in CS patients.

Methods

Sixty CS patients were randomized into two groups by the random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. Patients in the qigong group practiced Shaolin internal qigong exercise on a regular basis, while patients in the electroacupuncture (EA) group received EA treatment. Before and after treatment, the sEMG signals of six muscles, i.e. biceps brachii, triceps brachii, deltoid, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles, of the affected side were recorded at 45° abduction of the shoulder, 60° forward flexion and 90° internal rotation with the elbow flexed during maximal isometric contraction, and the integrated electromyography (iEMG) of each muscle was calculated.

Results

The total effective rate was 93.3% in the qigong group, higher than 83.3% in the EA group (P<0.05). Intra-group comparison showed that the iEMG of biceps brachii, triceps brachii, pectoralis major and deltoid muscles in the qigong group increased significantly after intervention at 45° abduction of the shoulder, 60° forward flexion and 90° internal rotation with the elbow flexed (all P<0.05), and the iEMG of trapezius and latissimus dorsi muscles decreased (both P<0.05); in the EA group, the iEMG of biceps brachii, pectoralis major and deltoid muscles increased significantly during contraction (all P<0.05), while the iEMG of triceps brachii, trapezius and latissimus dorsi muscles had no significant changes (all P>0.05). After intervention, there were significant differences in the iEMG of most of muscles between the two groups (all P<0.05), except for the iEMG of deltoid muscle at 45° of abduction of the shoulder joint during isometric contraction (P>0.05).

Conclusion

Shaolin internal qigong exercise can effectively increase the motion intensity of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, pectoralis major and deltoid muscles and reduce the compensation of the latissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles in CS patients; compared with EA, it produces a better result in improving the coordination and stability in shoulder joint movements.

摘要

目的: 对比观察肩周炎患者采用规律性少林内功锻炼治疗前后肩周肌群表面肌电信号变化, 探索少林内 功锻炼治疗肩周炎的疗效及客观评价指标。 方法: 将60例肩周炎患者按照随机数字表法随机分为2组, 每组30例。 气功组进行规律性少林内功锻炼, 电针组接受电针治疗。 治疗前后记录两组患者患侧肱二头肌、肱三头肌、三角 肌、胸大肌、背阔肌及斜方肌6块肌肉在肩关节45°外展、60°前屈和屈肘90°内旋位,做最大等长性收缩运动时的表 面肌电信号, 并计算各肌肉对应的积分肌电值(iEMG)。 结果: 气功组总有效率为93.3%, 高于电针组的83.3% (P<0.05)。与本组治疗前相比, 气功组肱二头肌、肱三头肌、胸大肌和三角肌在肩关节做45°外展、60°前屈和屈 肘90°内旋动作时的iEMG均显著提高(均P<0.05), 斜方肌和背阔肌的iEMG降低(均P<0.05); 电针组肱二头肌、胸 大肌和三角肌做收缩运动时的iEMG显著提高(均P<0.05), 肱三头肌、斜方肌和背阔肌的iEMG无显著变化(均 P>0.05)。 治疗后, 两组除肩关节做45°外展位等长收缩动作时的三角肌iEMG差异无统计学意义外(P>0.05), 其余 的iEMG组间差异均具有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。 结论: 少林内功锻炼可有效增强肩周炎患者肱二头肌、肱三头 肌、胸大肌和三角肌的肌肉活动强度, 减少背阔肌和斜方肌的代偿, 在提高肩关节运动的协调性及稳定性方面优 于电针治疗。