Comparison of different types of isometric exercises in the cervical region


ÖNAL S., Baltaci G., SOYLU A. R., YAKUT Y.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF PHYSIOTHERAPY REHABILITATION-FIZYOTERAPI REHABILITASYON, vol.24, no.1, pp.33-41, 2013 (ESCI) identifier identifier

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the activation levels by using surface electromyography (EMG) of the front and back muscles of the neck during different isometric exercises in healthy subjects. Methods: Fourteen healthy voluntary (8 females, 6 males; mean age: 24.2 years) subjects participated in this study. Muscle activations were measured from M. Sternocleidomastoideus and M. Erector spinae during resistance to physiotherapist, resistance to their self, by using Thera-Band r and dynamic isometric exercises of neck flexion and extension and compared among these exercises. Each exercise was done for 10 sec with 6 repetitions/session. Integral of received EMG recordings of each EMG for EMG analysis were calculated. Results: Strength imbalances between right and left erector spine during extension against resistance of the physiotherapist and isometric exercise against the resistive of him or herself (p< 0.05). Besides, EMG in isometric exercise using Thera-Band r was less significant than isometric exercises using the resistive of physical therapist and himself or herself (p< 0.05). Conclusion: This study showed exercises using Thera-Band r would be important to choose both resistance control and selected exercise according to injury severity in cervical problems.