The effect of scapular muscle endurance on chronic shoulder pain in textile workers

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of scapular muscle endurance on chronic shoulder pain in textile workers.Methods: Totally 91 textile workers, 61 male and 30 female, whose mean age was 30.03±9.28 years and who are working in a textile factory were included in this study. Demographic characteristics, education levels, years of employment, smoking behavior and leisure time activities of the cases were assessed. At baseline Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was applied to all cases and according to results cases were divided into two groups who have chronic shoulder pain (n=43) and who don?t (n=48). Serratus anterior and trapezius muscles were assessed by the Scapular Muscle Endurance Test which was carried out to all subjects. Percentage values were calculated for the qualitative data of the groups, t Test was used to analyze the quantitative data.Results: There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in terms of demographic characteristics and the groups were homogeneous (p>0.05). Mean of cigarette consumption and years of employment were similar (p>0.05) and in the both groups cases who graduated from primary school exceeded in numbers. In the group with chronic shoulder pain, scapular muscle endurance mean was lower than the other group?s and there was a statistically significant difference between two groups (p<0.05).Conclusion: Scapular muscle endurance of the textile workers with chronic shoulder pain was found lower in this study. This result supports that scapular muscle endurance has an effect on development of shoulder pain. However, because of the fact that the present study was cross-sectional, to generalize the results there is a need to new studies which have periodic follow-up assessments related to this subject.