Influence of test position on neck muscle fatigue in healthy controls

It has been suggested that increased fatigue of neck muscles could be related to neck pain. However, studies on the matter present contradicting results which could be explained by the different test positions used.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of test position on muscle fatigue of neck flexor and extensor muscles in healthy controls.

Twenty-five women without neck pain sustained neck flexion and neck extension isometric contractions at 25% and 75% of their maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) in two test positions: sitting and supine lying. Using surface electromyography, the change over time of the median frequency of the power spectrum (MDF slope) of the myoelectric signal of the sternocleidomastoid and splenius capitis muscles was measured and compared between both positions.

At 75% MVC, splenius capitis muscles presented higher fatigue in lying compared to sitting, while sternocleidomastoid demonstrated no difference between positions. No statistically significant effect of test position was found at 25% MVC for both sternocleidomastoid and splenius capitis muscles as they generally did not present myoelectric manifestations of fatigue.

These results underline the need to standardise the test position when investigating neck muscle fatigue, especially for neck extensors at high loads.