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Published on: June 12, 2019
Quantitative measures of sagittal plane head-neck control: a test-retest reliability study
John M Popovich1, N Peter Reeves1, M Cody Priess2
1MSU Center for Orthopedic Research, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, USA; Department of Osteopathic Surgical Specialties, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Reliable measurement of head-neck motor control is crucial for injury and treatment studies. This research confirms the high reliability of position tracking, stabilization, and force tracking tasks for quantifying head-neck motor control.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Reliable measurement tools are essential for studying head-neck motor control.
- Understanding the reliability of these measures is critical before applying them to clinical populations or interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the within-day and between-day reliability of specific tasks used to quantify head-neck motor control.
- To assess the reliability of position tracking, position stabilization, and force tracking tasks.
Main Methods:
- Ten asymptomatic subjects performed position tracking, position stabilization, and force tracking tasks on two separate days.
- Tasks involved controlling head-neck position or force in the sagittal plane, and maintaining head position against perturbations.
- Reliability was assessed using coefficients of multiple correlations (CMC) and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC).
Main Results:
- Position and force tracking tasks demonstrated high within- and between-day reliability (CMCs ≥0.96, ICCs ≥0.93).
- Position stabilization tasks showed moderate reliability (CMCs 0.72–0.82, ICCs 0.66–0.72).
Conclusions:
- Position tracking, position stabilization, and force tracking tasks are reliable methods for quantifying head-neck motor control.
- These validated tasks can be confidently used in research investigating head-neck injuries and treatment interventions.
