Background/Objectives: Laparoscopic surgery has become the pre-eminent surgical approach for performing general surgical and gynecological operations, but it can lead to musculoskeletal disorder in surgeons. This study aimed to investigate the musculoskeletal demands of completing four core laparoscopic skills tasks amongst Obstetrics and Gynecology (O&G) and General Surgery (GS) trainees, recognizing that differences between specialties may create different ergonomic and muscular demands. Methods: Ten O&G and ten GS trainees both performed the same four tasks to evaluate their core laparoscopic skills whilst using electromyography (EMG) to assess the physical demand of each task in the trainee groups as a percent of maximum voluntary contraction. Results: O&G trainees had significantly higher muscle activity when completing a hand–eye coordination (HEC) task (167.9 ± 63.8 vs. 92.5 ± 31.3%, p = 0.019), bimanual coordination (BMC) task (205.6 ± 80.7 vs. 106.9 ± 47.0%, p = 0.017), and suturing (267.7 ± 121.6 vs. 122.2 ± 33.0%, p = 0.016) task in the right trapezius and deltoid muscle groups compared to GS trainees. No difference was observed between trainee groups in the laparoscopic camera navigation (LCN) task (p = 0.438). Conclusions: There appears to be increased muscular activity in O&G compared to GS trainees during the same simulated laparoscopic tasks. The findings should inform training policy around the optimization of ergonomics to minimize the risk of musculoskeletal disorder.

During glucose uptake into muscle, GLUT‐4 can translocate with stimulus from insulin or muscle contraction via exercise, but some exercise‐intolerant populations are unable to benefit from improved glycaemic control. We investigated how passive movement training (PMT) and passive movement training with blood flow restriction (PMT+BFR) could be used as an alternative method. The effects on blood lactate and insulin were also investigated. Eleven healthy males (26.9 ± 8.3 years, 25.7 ± 2.1 kg/m ² ) undertook a crossover trial of three 150‐min treatments, control (CTRL), PMT and PMT+BFR, on three separate study visits, separated by ≥24 h. Each participant arrived fasted and consumed a standardised high‐carbohydrate meal (522 kcal, 112.5 g carbohydrate). The PMT protocol involved 30 min of intermittent bilateral knee extension/flexion (1 min:1 min work/rest) at an angular velocity of 180°/s through an 80° range of motion. PMT+BFR used a pressure calibrated at 80% arterial occlusion. Blood glucose and lactate were measured every 5 min, with insulin at 0, 30 and 60 min. Acute changes in muscle thickness were recorded using ultrasound pre‐ and post‐intervention. There were no significant differences between the treatment groups for mean glucose (CTRL: 4.59 ± 0.48, PMT: 4.88 ± 0.82, PMT+BFR: 4.51 ± 0.90 mmol/L; P = 0.498). A statistically significant acute difference of muscle thickness ( P = 0.00420) from pre‐ to post‐treatment was detected in PMT+BFR. While PMT did not improve postprandial glycaemia with or without BFR, the acute increase in muscle thickness after PMT+BFR suggests that it may be useful in other applications.

Purpose: Technological advancements have expanded options available for minimally invasive surgery, particularly laparoscopic surgery (LS) and robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS). However, these developments raise important questions about their impact on surgeon performance and well-being. This scoping review aimed to systematically map the current literature on the use of electromyography (EMG) to assess muscle activation in surgeons performing LS and RALS. Methods: This study was a scoping review of the literature and did not require ethical approval. This review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines and the PRISMA-ScR checklist. A comprehensive search was performed across multiple databases including MEDLINE, Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, and others. Studies were screened and selected using the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework. Data were charted using a custom extraction form and analysed descriptively. Studies were included if they took place in a surgical setting (including simulated environments) involving laparoscopic abdominal surgery and used EMG to measure electrical activity, ergonomics, or muscular stress of a muscle group. Results: Ninety-four unique studies published between 1997 and 2025 were included. Most studies focussed on LS (n = 62), with fewer investigating RALS (n = 5), comparing LS and RALS directly (n = 12) or isolated laparoscopic task settings (n = 15). EMG was primarily used to assess muscle activation in the deltoids, trapezius, and forearm muscles. Studies employed various methodologies, including root mean squared (RMS) amplitude and median frequency analysis, and often integrated EMG with other tools such as EEG, kinematic analysis, and questionnaires. Within the subset of comparative studies between RALS and LS, findings consistently suggested lower muscle activation in RALS compared to LS, particularly in the upper body musculature. However, this should be interpreted cautiously because the comparative evidence base is relatively small and heterogeneous. Conclusions: EMG is a well-established and versatile tool for evaluating the ergonomic demands of minimally invasive surgery. While the broader literature maps the muscular demands of LS, a specific trend within comparative studies suggests RALS may reduce electrical activity compared to LS, especially in the shoulders and upper back. However, methodological variability and limited longitudinal data highlight the need for standardised protocols and further research. Future studies should explore long-term musculoskeletal outcomes and integrate EMG into surgical training to enhance ergonomic awareness. A future meta-analysis may be feasible, but only for carefully defined subgroups with comparable EMG protocols, task types, muscle groups, normalization procedures, and outcome measures.