Abstract
Objective
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the comfort and the electromyographic (EMG)
activity of the neck and mid-upper back of asymptomatic adults using foam pillows
of 3 different heights.
Methods
Twenty-one asymptomatic adults used foam pillows of 3 different heights (1: 5 cm,
2: 10 cm, and 3: 14 cm). Comfort was assessed using a 100-mm visual analog scale.
Electromyographic activity was assessed in the lateral position. We calculated the
root mean square (RMS) in 500-millisecond windows of bilateral EMG activity of the
sternocleidomastoid and upper and middle trapezius, normalized by maximal isometric
contraction of each individual. The RMS of the EMG signals was compared among pillow
heights using repeated-measures analysis of variance (P < .05).
Results
The middle trapezius muscle of the down-side showed the highest RMS in height 1 when
compared with heights 2 (P = .0163) and 3 (P = .0313), with no statistical significance between pillow heights 2 and 3 for this
muscle. There were no statistical differences between pillows 2 and 3 in any muscle
activity. Height 2 was considered the most comfortable (P < .001) compared with heights 1 and 3, and height 1 the least comfortable (P < .001) compared with the other heights.
Conclusion
For the participants in this study, there was an association among pillow height,
myoelectric activity, and comfort.
Key Indexing Terms
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 21, 2015
Accepted:
August 28,
2014
Received in revised form:
August 18,
2014
Received:
September 5,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 National University of Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
