The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy

The Korean Society of Physical Therapy (대한물리치료학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Deep Neck Flexor and Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Thickness Change in Persons with No Current Neck Pain using Rehabilitative Ultrasonograpic Imaging

  • Lee, Hae-Jung (Department of Physical Therapy, Silla University) ;
  • Song, Ju-Min (Department of Physical Therapy, Silla University)
  • Received : 2016.11.25
  • Accepted : 2016.12.20
  • Published : 2016.12.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the thickness of deep neck flexors (DNF) and sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) bilaterally during deep neck flexor endurance test using ultrasonography images. Methods: Healthy volunteers (n=22), 20-25 (mean 22.2) years old, were recruited for the study. Participants were asked to perform the craniocervical flexion test (CCFT) in a seated position to measure deep neck flexor endurance. The thickness of DNF and SCM was assessed bilaterally and was measured using ultrasonography images at resting, contracted, pre-terminal and terminal phases of the neck muscle endurance test. Muscle contraction pattern was also observed along with the changes in muscle thickness from the resting phase to the terminal phase. Repeated-measure ANOVA was employed to compare muscle thickness bilaterally at each phase. Results: The thickness of right and left muscles was found to be significantly different in DNF both at resting and contracted phases (p=0.02, p<0.01, respectively), whereas no significant difference was observed in SCM at resting or contracted phases (p=0.59, p=0.18, respectively). Thickness changes from resting to contracted phase were not significantly different both in DNF and SCM (p=0.18, p=0.22, respectively). Muscle contraction patterns in right and left muscles were shown to be similar. Conclusion: The current study, performed on (with) healthy subjects, significantly detected different right and left muscle thickness in DNF, but the muscle contraction patterns were similar in DNF and SCM bilaterally. Further study is required to investigate DNF and SCM muscle size and function in people with neck pain.

Keywords

References

  1. Gordon SJ, Trott P, Grimmer KA. Waking cervical pain and stiffness, headache, scapular or arm pain: gender and age effects. J Physiother. 2002;48(1):9-15.
  2. Guez M, Hildingsson C, Nilsson M et al. The prevalence of neck pain: a population-based study from northern sweden. Acta Orthop Scand. 2002;73(4):455-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/00016470216329
  3. Strine TW, Hootman JM. Us national prevalnce and correlates of low back and neck pain among adults. Arthritis Rheum. 2007;57(4):656-65. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.22684
  4. Chiu TTW, Lam PKW. The prevalence of and risk factors for neck pain and upper limb pain among secondary school teachers in Hong Kong. J Occup Rehabil. 2007;17(1):19-32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-006-9046-z
  5. Cote P, Kristman V, Vidmar M et al. The prevalence and incidence of work absenteeism involving neck pain: a cohort of ontario lost-time claimants. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009;32(2 Suppl):S219-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2008.11.022
  6. Jull G, Falla D. Does increased superficial neck flexor activity in the craniocervical flexion test reflect reduced deep flexor activity in people with neck pain? Man Ther. 2016;25:43-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2016.05.336
  7. Falla D, O'Leary S, Farina D et al. The change in deep cervical flexor activity after training is associated with the degree of pain reduction in patients with chronic neck pain. Clin J Pain. 2012;28(7):628-34. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0b013e31823e9378
  8. Edmondston S, Bjornsdottir G, Palsson T et al. Endurance and fatigue characteristics of the neck flexor and extensor muscles during isometric tests in patients with postural neck pain. Man Ther. 2011;16(4):332-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2010.12.005
  9. Falla D, Rainoldi A, Merletti R et al. Myoelectric manifestations of sternocleidomastoid and anterior scalene muscle fatigue in chronic neck pain patients. Clin Neurophysiol. 2003;114(3):488-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1388-2457(02)00418-2
  10. Uhlig Y, Weber BR, Grob D et al. Fiber composition and fiber transformations in neck muscles of patients with dysfunction of the cervical spine. J Orthop Res. 1995;13(2):240-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.1100130212
  11. Gogia PP, Sabbahi MA. Electromyographic analysis of neck muscle fatigue in patients with osteoarthritis of the cervical spine. Spine. 1994;19(5):502-6. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199403000-00002
  12. Javanshir K, Rezasoltani A, Mohseni-Bandpei MA et al. Ultrasound assessment of bilateral longus colli muscles in subjects with chronic bilateral neck pain. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2011;90(4):293-301. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0b013e31820173e5
  13. Whittaker JL, Stokes M. Ultrasound imaging and muscle function. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2011;41(8):572-80. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2011.3682
  14. Jesus FMR, Ferreira PH, Ferreira ML. Ultrasonographic measurement of neck muscle recruitment: a preliminary investigation. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2008;16(2):89-92. https://doi.org/10.1179/106698108790818486
  15. Ishida H, Suehiro T, Kurozumi C et al. Ultrasound imaging of the diagonal dimension of the deep cervical flexor muscles: a reliability study on healthy subjects. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2015;19(3):417-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2014.09.004
  16. Lee H. Neck pain and functioning in daily activities associated with smartphone usage. J Kor Phys Ther. 2016;28(3):183-8. https://doi.org/10.18857/jkpt.2016.28.3.183
  17. Falla D, O'Leary S, Fagan A et al. Recruitment of the deep cervical flexor muscles during a postural-correction exercise performed in sitting. Man Ther. 2007;12(2):139-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2006.06.003
  18. Cagnie B, D'Hooge R, Achten E et al. A magnetic resonance imaging investigation into the function of the deep cervical flexors during the performance of craniocervical flexion. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2010; 33(4):286-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2010.03.010
  19. Olson LE, Millar AL, Dunker J et al. Reliability of a clinical test for deep cervical flexor endurance. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2006;29(2):134-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2005.12.009
  20. Cagnie B, Derese E, Vandamme L et al. Validity and reliability of ultrasonography for the longus colli in asymptomatic subjects. Man Ther. 2009;14(4):421-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2008.07.007
  21. Falla D, Jull G, Dall'Alba P et al. An electromyographic analysis of the deep cervical flexor muscles in performance of craniocervical flexion. Phys Ther. 2003;83(10):899-906.
  22. Javanshir K, Amiri M, Mohseni-Bandpei MA et al. Ultrasonography of the cervical muscles: a critical review of the literature. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2010;33(8):630-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2010.08.016
  23. Zito G, Jull G, Story I. Clinical tests of musculoskeletal dysfunction in the diagnosis of cervicogenic headache. Man Ther. 2006;11(2):118-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2005.04.007

Cited by

  1. Hemodynamics of the sternocleidomastoid measured with frequency domain near-infrared spectroscopy towards non-invasive monitoring during mechanical ventilation vol.12, pp.7, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1364/boe.430423