An update of neck muscle strength: From isometric to isokinetic
assessment
Issue title: Selected papers and abstracts of the
"XXXIèmes Entretiens de Médecine Physique et de
Réadaptation", Current Concepts in Isokinetics, Montpellier, France,
5–7 March, 2003
Affiliations: [a] Laboratoire de Physiologie Neuromusculaire, Institut
de Myologie, GH Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Pr Pierre Portero, Institut de
Myologie, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, 83, Bd de
l'Hôpital, 75651 Paris Cedex 13, France. Tel.: +33 1 42 16 58 75; Fax:
+33 1 42 16 58 81; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Pain syndromes in the neck-shoulder region resulting in neck sprain
after repetitive mechanical loads imposed on the neck and shoulders during car
or sporting accidents do not appear to be an isolated phenomenon. These
pathologies require a specific muscle assessment for the diagnosis and the
management of patients. Isometric muscle assessment is classically used, involving a maximal
voluntary contraction performed at specified joint position against unyielding
resistance. In spite of high reliability and reproducibility, this method does
not allow the investigation of the dynamic properties of muscle. For this
reason, an isokinetic method has become an increasingly popular modality in
rehabilitative and sport medicine. Its concept has the advantage of providing a
method of measuring strength during dynamic movements in a highly standardised
situation. Although trunk muscles have been widely explored by the isokinetic
technique, the cervical spine has not received the benefit of isokinetic
technological progress. Recently, a specific neck device has been designed and
validated, permitting the first isokinetic approach of neck muscles in
different healthy and sporting populations. This article examines the use of
isometric neck muscle assessment and proposes the isokinetic method as a tool
for assessing the cervical spine in exercise sciences, medicine, and
rehabilitation.
