Klein Joel, Koch Ian, Delgadillo Blake E, Chickness Jason, Blank Jacob, Amos Ashton, Tay Kevin, Kelly Emily A, Webber Kassidy, Benzinger Brett, Haft Jeffrey, Miller Drew
Physiatry, Rochester Regional Health, Rochester, USA.
Orthopedic Surgery, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, USA.
Cureus. 2024 Aug 3;16(8):e66058. doi: 10.7759/cureus.66058. eCollection 2024 Aug.
Primary preventative medicine lacks a consensus on effective concussion prevention strategies for collegiate athletes. Cervical strength has been identified as a potential factor in concussion risk reduction. This study evaluates the impact of a commercially available, portable cervical muscle stretching and strengthening device, NeckX®, on cervical strength, range of motion (ROM), and concussion incidence in collegiate athletes participating in high-concussion-risk sports.
A single-arm prospective cohort study was conducted with 162 collegiate athletes from various sports. Participants underwent a 12-week neck exercise protocol using the NeckX® device. Clinical data, including neck strength and ROM, were collected at weeks 0, 6, and 12. Concussion incidence was self-reported by participants and cross-referenced with records from the athletic department. Data were analyzed for significant neck strength and ROM changes throughout the 12-week study. A two-way analysis of variance multiple comparisons with the Tukey-Kramer significant difference test was utilized, using the Holm-Sidak method, with an alpha of 0.05.
All athletic teams experienced a significant increase in cervical strength during the 12-week intervention (α = 0.05, p < 0.05). Increases in cervical flexion and extension force were most consistent between teams. Cervical ROM increased significantly in male and female soccer players (α = 0.05, p < 0.05). The overall incidence of head and neck injuries, including concussions, was reduced to 6.60% during the study period, the lowest recorded value in the university's athletic department history.
The use of the NeckX® device for 12 weeks was effective in enhancing pericervical muscle strength and ROM while reducing concussion incidence in collegiate athletes participating in high-concussion-risk sports. Interestingly, the positive outcomes were consistent for both males and females, indicating the universal advantages of neck training among collegiate athletes. These findings support existing research on the benefits of cervical strengthening exercises for reducing concussions in collegiate athletes and highlight the convenience and affordability of using this device.
对于大学运动员有效的脑震荡预防策略，初级预防医学尚未达成共识。颈部力量已被确定为降低脑震荡风险的一个潜在因素。本研究评估了一种市售的便携式颈部肌肉拉伸和强化设备NeckX®对参加高脑震荡风险运动的大学运动员的颈部力量、活动范围（ROM）和脑震荡发生率的影响。
对162名来自不同运动项目的大学运动员进行了一项单臂前瞻性队列研究。参与者使用NeckX®设备进行了为期12周的颈部锻炼方案。在第0、6和12周收集临床数据，包括颈部力量和ROM。脑震荡发生率由参与者自行报告，并与体育部门的记录进行交叉核对。对12周研究期间颈部力量和ROM的显著变化进行了数据分析。使用了双因素方差分析多重比较，并采用Tukey-Kramer显著差异检验，使用Holm-Sidak方法，α值为0.05。
在为期12周的干预期间，所有运动队的颈部力量均显著增加（α = 0.05，p < 0.05）。各队之间颈部屈伸力量的增加最为一致。男女足球运动员的颈部ROM显著增加（α = 0.05，p < 0.05）。在研究期间，包括脑震荡在内的头部和颈部损伤的总体发生率降至6.60%，这是该大学体育部门历史上记录的最低值。
使用NeckX®设备12周可有效增强颈部周围肌肉力量和ROM，同时降低参加高脑震荡风险运动的大学运动员的脑震荡发生率。有趣的是，男性和女性的积极结果一致，表明颈部训练对大学运动员具有普遍优势。这些发现支持了现有关于颈部强化锻炼对降低大学运动员脑震荡益处的研究，并突出了使用该设备的便利性和可承受性。
