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Neck semispinalis capitis muscle size in sitting and prone positions measured by real-time ultrasonography
A Rezasoltani1, M Kallinen, E Mälkiä
1LIKES-Research Center for Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Objective:
To examine the reliability of measurements of semispinalis capitis muscle (SECM) cross-sectional area (CSA) in prone and sitting positions, and to compare the muscle size in these two positions.
Design:
Semispinalis capitis CSA was measured twice a day on two successive days with a real-time ultrasound apparatus.
Subjects:
Eighteen males (aged 19-34 years) and 28 females (aged 19-34 years) were studied for the reliability test. Seven males and 12 females were randomly selected to compare SECM size in sitting and prone positions.
Results:
The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for repeatability measurements was r = 0.98 for the two positions. The correlation of the CSA in sitting and in prone positions was r = 0.93 (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences between CSA, linear dimensions and shape ratio of SECM in the two positions.
Conclusions:
In this study SECM ultrasonography appeared to be an accurate method in both positions, and position as such had no significant effects on the SECM cross-sectional size. Such accuracy allows neck muscle evaluation in clinical diagnosis and in follow-up studies during neck rehabilitation programmes.