Dysponesis Awareness Training: Surface Electromyographic Training for Increased Awareness and Facilitated Neck Muscle Relaxation

Abstract

This study investigated a simple biofeedback-assisted training protocol for increasing somatic awareness as well as reducing dyponesis. Twelve normal, healthy volunteers with no known musculoskeletal impairments (mean age of 23.8 years) were trained to increase awareness of “wasted effort” in the neck muscles during a simple bending task. Surface electromyography (sEMG) signals were recorded from the midcervical paraspinal muscles (C-5) while the subject performed a forward fold, also described as a “toe touch” movement. The quantitative measures of sEMG activity were compared to a subjective measure of neck muscle tension. During the pretraining measurements, 11 of 12 participants reported no subjective awareness of increased neck muscle tension while bending in a forward fold “toe touch” position. After approximately 10 minutes of “dysponesis awareness training,” all participants had measurable reductions in neck muscle tension, as well as reductions in the subjective sense of tension while performing the forward fold exercise, as compared to pretraining. The 11 participants who increased their self-awareness following training reported not only feeling decreased neck muscle tension but also increased general relaxation levels. The findings suggest that most individuals may be unaware of increased muscle tension during simple activities such as a forward bend, yet may rapidly learn how to reduce dysponesis, such as unnecessary neck muscle overexertion during a forward bend. Furthermore, sEMG dysponesis awareness training could be adapted to rapidly train individuals such as athletes to reduce unnecessary muscle use.