Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 13, 2025

Acquisition and Semi-Automated Analysis of Respiratory Muscle Surface Electromyography
Published on: January 24, 2025
Difference in electromyographic activity between the trapezius muscle and other neck accessory muscles under an
Hiroshi Sekiguchi1, Akira Minei2, Masako Noborikawa3
1Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
Abstract:
The activity of the trapezius muscle is reportedly higher than that of other neck accessory muscles under a condition of increased inspiratory pressure in the standing position. The present study aimed to compare the activity of the trapezius muscle with those of the scalene and sternocleidomastoid muscles under a condition of increased inspiratory pressure in the supine position. This study included 40 subjects, and the muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography. Regarding the results, there was a significant difference in the muscle activity between the trapezius muscle and the scalene and sternocleidomastoid muscles (p = 0.003) in both men and women. Post-hoc analysis showed significant differences between trapezius and the other muscles. Moreover, there was no difference between the scalene and sternocleidomastoid muscles (p = 0.596). The increase in the change in electromyography activity of the muscle is greater in the trapezius muscle than in other muscles when the level of inspiratory pressure increases in the supine position.
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