Can Neck Strength be Measured Using a Single Maximal Contraction in a Simulated Contact Position?

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Neck strengthening is proposed to reduce concussions and neck injuries in collision sports.
• A reliable assessment of neck strength is needed for injury risk identification and rehabilitation tracking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if neck strength can be reliably assessed using a single maximal voluntary contraction in a simulated contact posture.

Main Methods:

• Thirty healthy male university students performed three maximal voluntary contractions for neck extension, flexion, and lateral flexion.
• Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to assess the reliability of the measurements.

Main Results:

• Neck extension strength (234.8 N) was significantly greater than flexion (141.0 N) and lateral flexion (134.5 N and 123.0 N).
• Intraclass correlation coefficients indicated "excellent" reliability for extension and lateral flexion (0.91-0.94) and "good" reliability for flexion (0.86).
• No significant changes in peak force were observed across the three trials, indicating consistency.

Conclusions:

• A single maximal voluntary contraction is a reliable method for assessing peak neck strength in a simulated contact position.
• This assessment method has practical applications for evaluating contact sport athletes in sport-specific postures.