EMG Response in Forearm and Neck Muscles When Comparing Surgical Techniques.

This questionnaire assesses musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by the surgeons within the last 12 months. It helps to understand the prevalence and location of pain and discomfort before they participate in the study. This questionnaire primarily yields categorical data. For each of the nine body regions (neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows, low back, wrists/hands, hips/thighs, knees, ankles/feet), it asks about trouble (ache, pain, discomfort) in the past 12 months and in the past 7 days. It also asks if the trouble prevented normal work (at home or away from home).

The frequency, duration, and intensity of different types of physical activities (vigorous, moderate, walking, and sitting) undertaken by the surgeons. It aims to quantify their overall physical activity level. Can be reported as continuous scores (Metabolic Equivalent of Task - minutes per week, or MET-min/week) calculated by multiplying duration, frequency, and standard MET intensity values for each activity type. It can also be categorized into low, moderate, and high physical activity levels based on specific criteria related to frequency, duration, and total MET-min/week.

This assesses the surgeon's health-related quality of life across eight dimensions: Physical Functioning, Role Limitations due to Physical Health Problems, Bodily Pain, General Health Perceptions, Vitality (energy/fatigue), Social Functioning, Role Limitations due to Emotional Problems,1 and Mental Health (emotional well-being). This yields eight scaled scores ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better health status in each dimension. Scoring involves recoding items, summing within scales, and then transforming to the standardized range using specific algorithms. Summary scores (PCS and MCS) can also be calculated.

This will take place with the surgeon producing the a maximal contraction for both their forearm muscles and neck muscles in to create a baseline of comparison to calculate the percentage of maximal contraction that the surgeons experience during surgery.

This outcome measures the immediate impact of RALS and LS on the surgeon's sternocleidomastoid muscles during a single surgical procedure. It will be quantified by assessing the change in electromyography (EMG) frequency and amplitude recorded during clinically important surgical tasks within the surgeons' first surgery of the day. The contributing measures to this primary measure are the maximal voluntary contraction that will be assessed just before the surgery begins, and the average frequency of muscle activation (mV) over the 2 minute data collection period. Muscle activation for RALS and LS will be compared using this measure.

This will be measured using EMG at clinically significant points in the surgery. This will allow for the researchers to assess the muscular demand and the amplitude and frequency of the EMG signal are the direct measures used to quantify this primary variable. Lower amplitude means a greater muscular demand.

This will be measured using EMG at clinically significant points in the surgery. This will allow for the researchers to assess the muscular demand and the amplitude and frequency of the EMG signal are the direct measures used to quantify this primary variable. Higher frequency means greater muscular demand.

This questionnaire assesses musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by the surgeons within the last 12 months. It helps to understand the prevalence and location of pain and discomfort before they participate in the study. This questionnaire primarily yields categorical data. For each of the nine body regions (neck, shoulders, upper back, elbows, low back, wrists/hands, hips/thighs, knees, ankles/feet), it asks about trouble (ache, pain, discomfort) in the past 12 months and in the past 7 days. It also asks if the trouble prevented normal work (at home or away from home).