The Reliability of Measuring Neck Muscle Strength with a Neck Muscle Force Measurement Device

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The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of an isometric neck muscle force measurement device. Thirty-five healthy non-athlete subjects (18 males and 17 females, aged 19-30) participated in this study. The maximal isometric muscle strength of the neck extensor and flexor muscles were measured at different times and on different days using a newly designed neck muscle force measurement apparatus. On each occasion, subjects performed three maximum voluntary contractions in each direction of neck extension and flexion movement. The interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard deviation within subjects (Sw) were computed to evaluate the reliability and magnitude of measurement error between measurements. The results of the intra-rater, test-retest, and inter-rater reliability (ICCs ≥ 0.94, Sws ≤ 4.9 N) indicate that the neck muscle force measurements were highly repeatable and varied little between measurements. There were no statistically significant differences in neck muscle force measurements between times, between days and between raters. Maximal isometric muscle strengths were significantly higher in males than in females (p < 0.00). Women's neck muscle strengths were 55% and 54% of men in cervical extension and cervical flexion, respectively. The isometric muscle force measurement device which was used in this study appears to be a reliable and useful method for measuring the force of the neck extensor and flexor muscles. It could also be suitable for the assessment of a physiotherapeutic or rehabilitation program.