[Functional muscle changes in patients with cervicothoracic osteochondrosis].

In a total of 80 patients, the authors determined osteochondrosis of the cervicothoracic portion of the spine of vertebrogenic etiology. Twenty-three patients were examined electromyographically, using superficial electrodes. The results obtained showed that these patients at rest manifested pathological activity in the superior and inferior trapezoid muscles associated with pain afferentation of the joints of the cervicothoracic portion of the spine which resulted in gradual muscular changes, manifested by reflectory muscular hypertension observed clinically and by an altered bioelectrical activity seen on the EMG.