A dedicated device for isokinetic and isometric measurements of neck strength

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Deslandes, Samuel^{a; b} | Mariot, Jean-Pierre^a | Colin, Denis^c

Affiliations: [a] Laboratoire Motricité, Interactions, Performance, Université du Maine, Le Mans, France | [b] Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Ingénieurs du Mans, Le Mans, France | [c] Centre de l'Arche, Saint Saturnin, Le Mans, France

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: In many sports activities, the neck is highly stressed and therefore painful syndromes can develop after long periods of repetitive, intense exercise. Quite a number of studies have looked into the isometric strength of the cervical spine but only a few explored the dynamic profile of these muscles. While commercial devices are available for assessing isokinetic movements of the knee, ankle and trunk none exist for the neck. In this paper we describe an attachment to a commercially available isokinetic dynamometer that is meant for static and dynamic testing of cervical muscles strength in the frontal and sagittal planes.

Keywords: Biomechanics, muscles, ergometer

DOI: 10.3233/IES-2008-0318

Journal: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 269-273, 2008