Effect of Resistance Exercise on Neck Muscle Activation Patterns in Youth Athletes: A Pilot Study: 510 Board #347 June 1, 9: 30 AM - 11: 00 AM.

The effect of a resistance training program targeting the neck has not been reported in youth athletes. PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effect of an 8-week supervised manual resistance training program on the neck’s force generating capacity in each primary plane of motion in youth athletes, as well as to explore the potential mechanism of any observed change. METHODS: Seventeen youth athletes (15 males, mean age 14.8 ± 1.8 years) were allocated into intervention (n = 13) and control (n = 4) groups using weighted block randomization. All participants completed 16 general resistance training sessions over an 8-week period with a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. The intervention group performed barbell shrugs and manual resistance exercises targeting the neck that were not performed by the control group. Before and after the exercise program, each participant completed a laboratory-based assessment of neck girth, force generating capacity, and surface electromyography (EMG) of the sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, splenius capitis, and semispinalis capitis muscles during maximum voluntary contraction in each plane of motion and during voluntary bracing. Descriptive statistics were calculated to compare pre-post changes between the two groups. RESULTS: Across all planes of motion, force generating capacity increased in 35 of 48 (72.9%) and 11 of 16 (68.8%) measurements taken in the intervention and control groups, respectively, with median changes of +20.6 N and +8.20 N in the two groups. Median changes in neck girth were +0.5 cm in both groups. Across the 4 cervical muscles, surface EMG activation (% of maximum), increased in 26 of 52 (50%) measurements in the intervention group and 5 of 16 (31.3%) of measurements in the control group during voluntary bracing. In flexion and extension, antagonist cervical muscle activation (% of maximum) decreased in 23 of 29 (79.3%) and 2 of 12 (16.7%) measurements taken in the intervention and control groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, an 8-week manual resistance training program was effective in increasing neck strength in male and female youth athletes. These results suggest that the mechanism of this change may be more attributable to greater efficiency of muscle recruitment than to muscle hypertrophy.