Evaluating a 14-week neck strengthening protocol for neuromuscular indicators associated with head and neck trauma

Abstract

Increased neck strength has been linked to a potential decrease in traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The purpose was to determine the efficacy of a neck-strengthening protocol using a novel neck-strengthening device to increase isometric neck strength and rate of force development (RFD). Utilizing self-generated centripetal force, participants trained for 14 weeks. A linear mixed model was used to analyze the relationship between post-assessment measurements and pre-assessments measurements, while accounting for repeated measure random effect at the individual level, and a regular random error term. RFD values were 4.344 times higher in the clockwise direction and 5.978 times higher in the counterclockwise direction when comparing pre and post assessment measurements. Isometric neck strength increased significantly (p ​< ​0.05) in the cervical extension (p ​= ​0.010) and left lateral flexion (p ​= ​0.009) directions. The results can be used in strength training and clinical settings to potentially reduce the incidence of TBI.

Keywords

Concussion / Isometric neck strength / Rate of force development / Neck strength assessment tool

Key Points

The novel neck strength protocol significantly increased in rate of force development (RFD) in both the clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) directions.

The novel neck strength protocol is a viable tool to improve isometric and dynamic neck strength.

Programs that elicit a dynamic neck strength adaptation may be considered a primary prevention method for mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs).

Ethical approval statement

The University's Institutional Review Board reviewed and approved this study (#19-0118) and informed consent was collected from each participant.

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Lindsey Harn Schroeder: Writing - review & editing, Writing - original draft, Supervision, Project administration, Methodology, Investigation, Conceptualization. Margaret C. Tyndall: Writing - original draft, Methodology, Investigation. Alexander Thomas McDaniel: Writing - review & editing, Supervision, Methodology, Conceptualization. Yishi Wang: Writing - review & editing, Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curation. Jennifer L. Kale: Investigation.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no professional relationships with companies or manufacturers who will benefit from the results of this present study. An internal institutional grant funded this study. The results of the present study do not constitute an endorsement of the product by the authors.

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The authors thank the numerous research assistants who volunteered throughout this study.