Intrasession and Intersession Reliability of Neck Retraction Strength Using a Strain Gauge Device

Neck pain ranks among the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions and is commonly accompanied by altered physical function. With 10.8% of sports-related injuries affecting the head and neck, evaluating neck strength is vital for detecting muscle weakness and monitoring rehabilitation progress. The purpose of this study was to determine the intrasession and intersession reliability of a strain gauge for measuring neck retraction strength in healthy adult men. Ten male participants (age, 22.7 [2.6] y; body mass, 90.8 [13.3] kg; height, 184.2 [7.1] cm) completed a neck retraction isometric test across 3 testing occasions separated by 7 days. Contraction duration, peak and mean force, impulse, and peak rate of force development were quantified within and between sessions. Contraction duration, peak force, and impulse demonstrated moderate to excellent intra- (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] [3,1] = .72-.98, coefficient of variation [CV] = 2.7%-2.1%) and intersession reliability (ICC [3,k] = .66-.89, CV = 4.8%-7.1%); however, only acceptable intrasession reliability was found for peak rate of force development and mean force (ICC = .71-.99, CV = 3.4%-22.7%). It appears that a portable fixed strain gauge can be used to reliably measure neck retraction strength in a healthy male population.