Lee Jaejin, Kim Dohyeon, Yu Kyunghoon, Cho Youngki, You Joshua H
Department of Physical Therapy, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea.
Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School, Inje University, Gimhae, Republic of Korea.
Biomed Mater Eng. 2018;29(3):289-298. doi: 10.3233/BME-181728.
Isometric cervical flexor system exercise (ICF) and isometric cervical extensor system exercise (ICE) are cervical stabilization techniques that have been used to restore cervical crossed syndrome (CCS)-associated forward head posture. However, the therapeutic effects and underlying motor control mechanisms remain elusive.
The purpose of present study was investigating the concurrent therapeutic effects of ICF and ICE on muscle size, muscle imbalance ratio, and muscle recruitment sequence using ultrasound imaging and electromyography.
A total of 18 participants (7 females; age=24±4.0 years) with CCS associated with forward head posture underwent ICF and ICE. Paired t-test analysis was used for statistical analysis.
Paired t-test analysis showed that sternocleidomastoid thickness was greater during ICF than ICE. Similarly, cross-sectional area and horizontal thickness of the longus colli were greater during ICE than ICF. The upper trapezius/lower trapezius muscle imbalance ratio and the pectoralis major/lower trapezius muscle imbalance ratio were significantly decreased during the application of ICE compared to ICF.
These results provide compelling, mechanistic evidence as to how ICE is more beneficial for the restoration of neuromuscular imbalance than ICF in individuals with CCS.
等长颈部屈肌系统锻炼（ICF）和等长颈部伸肌系统锻炼（ICE）是用于恢复与颈椎交叉综合征（CCS）相关的头部前倾姿势的颈椎稳定技术。然而，其治疗效果和潜在的运动控制机制仍不明确。
本研究的目的是使用超声成像和肌电图研究ICF和ICE对肌肉大小、肌肉失衡比率和肌肉募集顺序的同时治疗效果。
共有18名患有与头部前倾姿势相关的CCS的参与者（7名女性；年龄=24±4.0岁）接受了ICF和ICE治疗。采用配对t检验分析进行统计分析。
配对t检验分析表明，ICF期间胸锁乳突肌厚度大于ICE期间。同样，ICE期间颈长肌的横截面积和水平厚度大于ICF期间。与ICF相比，ICE应用期间上斜方肌/下斜方肌肌肉失衡比率和胸大肌/下斜方肌肌肉失衡比率显著降低。
这些结果提供了令人信服的机制证据，证明在患有CCS的个体中，ICE在恢复神经肌肉失衡方面比ICF更有益。
