The Effects of a 2-Week Isometric Neck Exercise Training Program on Standing Balance

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Abstract

The purpose was to assess a neck-specific exercise program on balance performance. Balance was measured using standing tests (Romberg (ROM), Modified Romberg (MROM), and Unipedal Stance) on force plates to assess center of pressure velocity (COPV) with eyes open and closed (EC). Neck endurance was measured using the Cervical Flexion Endurance (CFET) and Cervical Extension Endurance (CEET) tests. Twenty participants were randomly assigned across groups. The exercise intervention involved neck training 3X/week for 2 weeks. Repeated measures ANOVAs showed the intervention group had significant improvements in CFET (p = 0.005), thus differing from the control group post-intervention (p = 0.009), but no changes in CEET. COPV for ROMEC showed a significant main effect for group (p = 0.04), and MROMEC showed a main effect for timepoint (p = 0.010). The results show that CFET is a specific tool to increase neck flexion endurance, but further research is required to understand a possible interaction with balance.

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