Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Cervical movement performance in individuals with traumatic neck pain: a cross-sectional validity and reliability study of the cervical reaction acuity test.

Musculoskeletal science & practice·2026
Same author

Cervical musculoskeletal function is variable in tension-type headache: A cluster analysis.

Headache·2026
Same author

Pain-free bite force, endurance and steadiness in healthy and pain-related temporomandibular disorder populations: a reliability and cross-sectional pilot study exploring bite impairments.

Musculoskeletal science & practice·2026
Same author

Trunk-head coordination in chronic neck pain, reliability, influence of visual feedback, and relationship to patient-reported outcomes.

Archives of physiotherapy·2026
Same author

The effect of targeted upper cervical musculoskeletal management on the frequency and burden of migraine headache in adults - a single cohort pilot study.

The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy·2026
Same author

Active trigger points are common but not universal with tension-type headache: Pain features rather than musculoskeletal function may explain why.

Musculoskeletal science & practice·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
14:52

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

Published on: December 11, 2013

Can a functional postural exercise improve performance in the cranio-cervical flexion test?--a preliminary study.

Alexi Beer1, Julia Treleaven, Gwendolen Jull

  • 1Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health and Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.

Manual Therapy
|February 8, 2012
PubMed
Summary

This study shows a new postural exercise improves deep cervical flexor muscle function in neck pain patients. The exercise enhances cranio-cervical flexion test performance by altering sternocleidomastoid muscle activity.

More Related Videos

An Instrumented Pull Test to Characterize Postural Responses
12:18

An Instrumented Pull Test to Characterize Postural Responses

Published on: April 6, 2019

Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings
06:21

Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings

Published on: July 26, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 25, 2026

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication
14:52

Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

Published on: December 11, 2013

An Instrumented Pull Test to Characterize Postural Responses
12:18

An Instrumented Pull Test to Characterize Postural Responses

Published on: April 6, 2019

Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings
06:21

Postural Organization of Gait Initiation for Biomechanical Analysis Using Force Platform Recordings

Published on: July 26, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Physiotherapy
  • Neuromuscular Rehabilitation
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Deep cervical flexor (DCF) muscle impairment is prevalent in individuals experiencing neck pain.
  • Traditional motor relearning for DCF function often involves supine exercises, which can limit repetition and functional carryover.
  • A need exists for accessible, functional exercises to retrain DCF muscles effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of a novel functional postural exercise on DCF muscle activity during the cranio-cervical flexion test (CCFT).
  • To evaluate changes in sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle electromyographic (EMG) activity as a measure of DCF retraining efficacy.
  • To assess the feasibility of incorporating this exercise into rehabilitation for neck pain.

Main Methods:

  • A preliminary randomized controlled trial involving 20 participants with neck pain.
  • Participants were assigned to either an exercise group performing a functional postural exercise or a control group.
  • EMG signals from SCM muscles were recorded during the CCFT before and after a two-week intervention period.

Main Results:

  • The exercise group demonstrated improved CCFT performance, evidenced by decreased SCM EMG signal amplitudes in multiple stages.
  • Significant reductions in SCM activity were observed at the first (22 mmHg, p=0.043) and third (26 mmHg, p=0.003) stages of the CCFT.
  • No significant changes in SCM activity were found in the control group, and no between-group differences in pain or disability were noted.

Conclusions:

  • A functional postural exercise, incorporating upright posture and neck lengthening, appears to improve SCM muscle activation patterns during the CCFT.
  • This exercise is convenient for daily practice and may augment existing rehabilitation strategies for neck pain.
  • Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore broader clinical benefits.