Citation

Salmon DM, Handcock P, Sullivan SJ, Rehrer N, Niven B. J. Strength Cond. Res. 2014; 29(3): 637-646.

Affiliation

aSchool of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand bCentre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand cCentre for the Application of Statistics and Mathematics, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, National Strength and Conditioning Association)

DOI

10.1519/JSC.0000000000000689

PMID

25226308

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of repeated isometric measurements of neck strength and endurance in a simulated rugby contact posture. Data were collected from healthy active university students (n= 20) over 3 sessions. Each session consisted of a single maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and endurance trial for extension and flexion. The endurance trials were analyzed to determine the area under the force curve (%AUC) and the time to fatigue (TTF). Reliability was calculated using the standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC). The results revealed that the MVC values for extension were non-significant for session (p=0.21), while some session differences were seen for flexion (p=0.01), where session 1, 115.3N was less than session 3, 126.4N (p=0.03). For %AUC flexion values (86.0%AUC) were greater than extension (59.4%AUC) (p=0.02). A similar effect was observed for TTF with flexion (125.0s) having significantly greater TTF than extension (86. 1s). For peak force the greatest SEM and MDC were achieved for extension (15.3N and 42.3N), while flexion produced lower values (11.3N and 31.2N). In contrast for the endurance trials SEM and MDC were greater in flexion than in extension. The findings from this study indicate that the neck musculature can be reliably assessed in a simulated contact posture. For peak force extension provided more consistent measures across time as there appears to be a learning effect for flexion. Additionally the SEM and MDC scores provide a useful tool for future assessment of neck strength and endurance.

Language: en