TY - JOUR
T1 - Deep Neck Flexor Endurance in the Adolescent and Young Adult
T2 - Normative Data and Associated Attributes
AU - Jarman, Nathan F.
AU - Brooks, Toby
AU - James, C. Roger
AU - Hooper, Troy
AU - Wilhelm, Mark
AU - Brismée, Jean Michel
AU - Domenech, Manuel A.
AU - Kotara, Stanley J.
AU - Sizer, Phillip S.
N1 - Funding Information:
Disclosure: We certify that no party having a direct interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on us or on any organization with which we are associated. The Texas Orthopaedic Research Foundation (TORF; Lubbock, TX) provided financial support ($1600) extended exclusively for equipment purchase. The TORF had no vested interests in the outcomes of this research project. The manuscript submitted does not contain information about medical device(s).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Background Deep neck flexor (DNF) muscles stabilize the neck and contribute to head acceleration control. The function of DNF in cervical spine dynamic stabilization has not been examined in athletes of any age group, including adolescents. This investigation was necessary prior to studying the DNF muscles’ role in cervical spine injury patterns. Objectives The objectives of this study were (1) to determine average Deep Neck Flexor Endurance Test (DNFET) time scores in high school−aged and university-aged subjects (aged 14-22 years); and (2) to establish the relationship between gender and age for adolescent DNFET time scores. Design Cross-sectional design. Setting Public high school and private university. Participants A total of 81 (40 male, 41 female) healthy high school and collegiate athletes. Intervention DNFET time scores (in seconds) were collected and means values were calculated. Interrater reliability was established using the first 15 university-aged subjects enrolled in the study. Main Outcomes Mean DNFET time (seconds) scores. Results The DNF muscle endurance interrater reliability coefficient of reproducibility for 4 allied health clinicians was intraclass correlation coefficient (2,4) 0.712 (confidence interval, 0.24-0.85). The mean (± standard deviation) DNFET time score for females was 31.86 (±8.53) seconds versus 35.57 (±10.43) seconds for males. The DNFET performance demonstrated a significant but fair correlation with age (r = 0.401, P =.0001). No significant performance differences were found between male and female subjects in the 14- to 17-year-old group (U = 187.0, P =.285), the 18- to 22-year-old group (U = 145.0, P =.215), or the total male versus female subject groups (U = 653.0, P =.083). Conclusion Our study establishes a normative data set available for the DNFET in the adolescent population. The fair correlation between DNFET time scores and age is consistent with other studies. These findings serve as a basis for clinician testing, objectifying, and monitoring DNF dysfunction in an adolescent athletic population.
AB - Background Deep neck flexor (DNF) muscles stabilize the neck and contribute to head acceleration control. The function of DNF in cervical spine dynamic stabilization has not been examined in athletes of any age group, including adolescents. This investigation was necessary prior to studying the DNF muscles’ role in cervical spine injury patterns. Objectives The objectives of this study were (1) to determine average Deep Neck Flexor Endurance Test (DNFET) time scores in high school−aged and university-aged subjects (aged 14-22 years); and (2) to establish the relationship between gender and age for adolescent DNFET time scores. Design Cross-sectional design. Setting Public high school and private university. Participants A total of 81 (40 male, 41 female) healthy high school and collegiate athletes. Intervention DNFET time scores (in seconds) were collected and means values were calculated. Interrater reliability was established using the first 15 university-aged subjects enrolled in the study. Main Outcomes Mean DNFET time (seconds) scores. Results The DNF muscle endurance interrater reliability coefficient of reproducibility for 4 allied health clinicians was intraclass correlation coefficient (2,4) 0.712 (confidence interval, 0.24-0.85). The mean (± standard deviation) DNFET time score for females was 31.86 (±8.53) seconds versus 35.57 (±10.43) seconds for males. The DNFET performance demonstrated a significant but fair correlation with age (r = 0.401, P =.0001). No significant performance differences were found between male and female subjects in the 14- to 17-year-old group (U = 187.0, P =.285), the 18- to 22-year-old group (U = 145.0, P =.215), or the total male versus female subject groups (U = 653.0, P =.083). Conclusion Our study establishes a normative data set available for the DNFET in the adolescent population. The fair correlation between DNFET time scores and age is consistent with other studies. These findings serve as a basis for clinician testing, objectifying, and monitoring DNF dysfunction in an adolescent athletic population.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85036654687&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2017.02.002
DO - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2017.02.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 28214618
AN - SCOPUS:85036654687
SN - 1934-1482
VL - 9
SP - 969
EP - 975
JO - PM and R
JF - PM and R
IS - 10
ER -