Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 16, 2025
Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
Published on: September 11, 2019
Altered neuromuscular activity and postural stability during standing balance tasks in persons with non-specific neck
Munlika Sremakaew1, Julia Treleaven2, Gwendolen Jull2
1Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Objectives:
To compare neck, trunk, and lower extremity muscle activity in standing in persons with neck pain (NP) to healthy controls and determine associations with postural sway.
Methods:
Participants included 25 persons with NP and 25 controls. Surface electromyography was recorded bilaterally from neck (sternocleidomastoid, SCM; splenius capitis, SC; upper trapezius, UT), trunk (erector spinae, ES), and lower extremity (rectus femoris, RF; biceps femoris, BF; tibialis anterior, TA; medial gastrocnemius, GN) muscles. Postural sway was measured using a force platform in narrow stance with eyes open/closed, on firm/soft surfaces.
Results:
Compared to controls, the NP group demonstrated higher activity in all muscles, except UT and had higher amplitude ratios for neck muscles (SCM, SC) for all tasks (p < .05). No between-group difference was found in amplitude ratios for lower extremity muscles, except for GN. Lower extremity activity was moderately correlated with larger postural sway for both groups (r = 0.41-0.66, p < .05). There were no correlations between sway and neck and trunk muscle activity (p > .05).
Conclusion:
Increased muscle activity with NP is associated with increased postural sway. Both groups used similar postural control strategies, but the increased neck activity in the NP group is likely related to the NP disorder rather than postural instability.
