Functional Capacity Profile of the Cervical Joint in Young Adults: Sex-Related Differences
The functional capacity of the cervical spine plays a central role in healthy living. The aim of this study was to examine the sex-related effect on cervical strength, range of motion (ROM), and the musculoskeletal pain profile in young physically active individuals. A total of 30 males and 30 femal...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/20/11326 |
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| author | Christos Batatolis Konstantina Karatrantou Vaggelis Gymnopoulos Vassilis Gerodimos |
| author_facet | Christos Batatolis Konstantina Karatrantou Vaggelis Gymnopoulos Vassilis Gerodimos |
| author_sort | Christos Batatolis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The functional capacity of the cervical spine plays a central role in healthy living. The aim of this study was to examine the sex-related effect on cervical strength, range of motion (ROM), and the musculoskeletal pain profile in young physically active individuals. A total of 30 males and 30 females (21.53 ± 1.15 years old), without injury or chronic pain at the cervical joint, participated in the study. ROM (forward flexion, extension, lateral flexion-rotation), maximal isometric strength (forward flexion, extension, lateral flexion), and musculoskeletal pain were assessed using an electronic goniometer, a handheld dynamometer, and the Nordic questionnaire, respectively. The results revealed that: (a) females had higher ROM during extension and lateral flexion than males (<i>p</i> < 0.05); (b) males had higher absolute strength than females in all movement directions, and higher relative strength/body mass (at forward flexion) and flexion/extension ratio (<i>p</i> < 0.05); (c) ROM and strength were not significantly different between right and left sides (<i>p</i> > 0.05); (d) a large proportion (43.3%) of the participants had cervical pain; and (e) cervical strength showed a significant small negative correlation with pains (<i>p</i> < 0.05; r = −0.225 to −0.345). In conclusion, the derived reference values may be used by health and fitness professionals to extensively evaluate the cervical spine and to design specific exercise programs for injury prevention and rehabilitation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:28:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cfc810d69e7649a3a1fbf03cd37995fc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:28:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-cfc810d69e7649a3a1fbf03cd37995fc2023-11-19T15:30:41ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-10-0113201132610.3390/app132011326Functional Capacity Profile of the Cervical Joint in Young Adults: Sex-Related DifferencesChristos Batatolis0Konstantina Karatrantou1Vaggelis Gymnopoulos2Vassilis Gerodimos3Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, GreeceDepartment of Physical Education and Sports Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, GreeceDepartment of Physical Education and Sports Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, GreeceDepartment of Physical Education and Sports Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, GreeceThe functional capacity of the cervical spine plays a central role in healthy living. The aim of this study was to examine the sex-related effect on cervical strength, range of motion (ROM), and the musculoskeletal pain profile in young physically active individuals. A total of 30 males and 30 females (21.53 ± 1.15 years old), without injury or chronic pain at the cervical joint, participated in the study. ROM (forward flexion, extension, lateral flexion-rotation), maximal isometric strength (forward flexion, extension, lateral flexion), and musculoskeletal pain were assessed using an electronic goniometer, a handheld dynamometer, and the Nordic questionnaire, respectively. The results revealed that: (a) females had higher ROM during extension and lateral flexion than males (<i>p</i> < 0.05); (b) males had higher absolute strength than females in all movement directions, and higher relative strength/body mass (at forward flexion) and flexion/extension ratio (<i>p</i> < 0.05); (c) ROM and strength were not significantly different between right and left sides (<i>p</i> > 0.05); (d) a large proportion (43.3%) of the participants had cervical pain; and (e) cervical strength showed a significant small negative correlation with pains (<i>p</i> < 0.05; r = −0.225 to −0.345). In conclusion, the derived reference values may be used by health and fitness professionals to extensively evaluate the cervical spine and to design specific exercise programs for injury prevention and rehabilitation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/20/11326neckisometric contractionmuscle strengthrange of motionmusculoskeletal painfitness testing |
| spellingShingle | Christos Batatolis Konstantina Karatrantou Vaggelis Gymnopoulos Vassilis Gerodimos Functional Capacity Profile of the Cervical Joint in Young Adults: Sex-Related Differences Applied Sciences neck isometric contraction muscle strength range of motion musculoskeletal pain fitness testing |
| title | Functional Capacity Profile of the Cervical Joint in Young Adults: Sex-Related Differences |
| title_full | Functional Capacity Profile of the Cervical Joint in Young Adults: Sex-Related Differences |
| title_fullStr | Functional Capacity Profile of the Cervical Joint in Young Adults: Sex-Related Differences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Functional Capacity Profile of the Cervical Joint in Young Adults: Sex-Related Differences |
| title_short | Functional Capacity Profile of the Cervical Joint in Young Adults: Sex-Related Differences |
| title_sort | functional capacity profile of the cervical joint in young adults sex related differences |
| topic | neck isometric contraction muscle strength range of motion musculoskeletal pain fitness testing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/20/11326 |
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