Annals of Medicine (Dec 2023)

Acute effects of an isometric neck warm-up programme on neck performance characteristics and ultrasound-based morphology

  • Takashi Nagai,
  • Nathan D. Schilaty,
  • Hanwen Wong,
  • Valerie C. Keller,
  • Sean T. Stiennon,
  • Ryan W.B Chang,
  • Michael J. Stuart,
  • David A. Krause

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2023.2295402
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 55, no. 2

Abstract

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AbstractObjective Athletic performance can be enhanced immediately after an isometric warm-up, a phenomenon termed post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE). While isometric warm-ups can improve lower extremity sprint and jump performance, neck-specific isometric warm-ups need development and validation for mild traumatic brain disorders and neck pain. This study examined acute effects of isometric warm-ups on neck performance and morphology.Methods Arm 1: Twenty-six adults (13 M:13F) completed neck performance testing before and after a 10-minute neck isometric warm-up or stationary bike (sham) between two visits. Testing included visual-motor reaction time, peak force, rate of force development, force steadiness, and force replication/proprioception measured by a 6-axis load cell. An inclinometer assessed range-of-motion. Paired t-tests and two-way ANOVA examined effects of neck/bike warm-up and interaction effects, respectively. Arm 2: 24 adults (11 M:13F) completed ultrasound scans of cervical muscles: before 20-minute rest (sham), and before/after a 5-min neck isometric warm-up. Longus colli cross-sectional area and sternocleidomastoid/upper trapezius thickness and stiffness, and cervical extensors thickness was assessed. One-way ANOVA compared morphological values at sham, before, and after warm-up. Significance was set at p < 0.05.Results Isometric neck warm-up increased rate of force development in flexion (p = 0.022), extension (p = 0.001–0.003), right lateral flexion (p = 0.004–0.032), left lateral flexion (p = 0.005–0.014), while peak force improved only in left lateral flexion (p = 0.032). Lateral flexion range-of-motion increased after neck warm-up (p = 0.003-0.026). Similarly, longus colli cross-sectional area (p = 0.016) and sternocleidomastoid thickness (p = 0.004) increased.Conclusions Increased neck performance characteristics and morphology are likely due to PAPE effects of isometric neck warm-up. For coaches and athletes, simple isometric contractions could be added to existing warm-ups to reduce prevalence, incidence, and severity of mild traumatic brain injuries and neck pain.

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