The Mode of Activity of Cervical Extensors and Flexors in Healthy Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Participants
- Inclusion criteria: participants with no underlying diseases, no past or present pain in the neck, shoulders, or upper extremities, and no neurological symptoms such as numbness or hypoesthesia.
- Exclusion criteria: participants who were aware of pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper extremities, or had neurological symptoms such as numbness or hypoesthesia, or who suffered from diseases such as cervical disc herniation or rheumatoid arthritis.
2.2. Procedures for Recording Cervical Muscle Activity
2.2.1. Surface Electromyogram (sEMG)
2.2.2. Flow of sEMG Measurement
2.3. Assessment of Head and Neck Posture
2.4. Data Analysis
2.4.1. Grand Ensemble Average of sEMGs in Each Motion
2.4.2. A Percentage of Maximal Voluntary Contraction (%MVC) of Cervical Muscles
2.4.3. Craniovertebral Angle (CVA)
2.5. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Activities in the Cervical Extensors and Flexors in the Neutral Position and Craniovertebral Angle (CVA)
3.2. Activities in the Cervical Extensors and Flexors in Each Motion Compared with the Neutral Position
3.3. Comparison of the Cervical Extensors and Flexors Activities in Each Motion
3.4. Comparison in Activities of the Cervical Extensors and Flexors Activities among the Motions
4. Discussion
4.1. Activities of the Cervical Muscles in Neutral Position
4.2. Cervical Muscle Activity in Each Motion Compared with the Neutral Position
4.3. Comparing the Activity of the Cervical Extensors and Flexors in Each Motion
4.4. Overall Interpretation of the Results
4.5. Limitations
5. Conclusions
- In the neutral position, the %MVC of the extensors was significantly larger than that of the flexors.
- In the motion from the neutral position to the maximum range of motion (Phase I), the %MVCs of the extensors in flexion and extension, the ipsilateral extensors and flexors in lateral flexion were significantly larger than the %MVC in the neutral position.
- At the maximum range of motion (Phase II), the %MVCs of the flexors in flexion, the extensors in extension, and the ipsilateral extensors and flexors in lateral flexion were significantly larger than the %MVC in the neutral position.
- In the motion from the maximum range of motion to the neutral position (Phase III), the %MVCs of the extensors and flexors in flexion, the flexors in extension, the bilateral flexors and the contralateral extensors in lateral flexion were significantly larger than the %MVC in the neutral position.
- In rotation, the %MVCs of the bilateral extensors and the contralateral flexors in all three phases were significantly larger than the %MVC in the neutral position.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Yajima, H.; Nobe, R.; Takayama, M.; Takakura, N. The Mode of Activity of Cervical Extensors and Flexors in Healthy Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. Medicina 2022, 58, 728. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58060728
Yajima H, Nobe R, Takayama M, Takakura N. The Mode of Activity of Cervical Extensors and Flexors in Healthy Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. Medicina. 2022; 58(6):728. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58060728
Chicago/Turabian StyleYajima, Hiroyoshi, Ruka Nobe, Miho Takayama, and Nobuari Takakura. 2022. "The Mode of Activity of Cervical Extensors and Flexors in Healthy Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study" Medicina 58, no. 6: 728. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58060728