Ultrasound imaging with speckle tracking of cervical muscle deformation and deformation rate: Isometric contraction of patients after anterior cervical decompression and fusion for cervical disc…

Ultrasound imaging with speckle tracking of cervical muscle deformation and deformation rate: Isometric contraction of patients after anterior cervical decompression and fusion for cervical disc disease and controls

Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, June 2012

22703900

Anneli Peolsson, Tommy Löfstedt, Johan Trygg, Michael Peolsson

There is currently a lack of information regarding neck muscle activity during specific exercises. The purpose of the present study was to investigate deformation and deformation rate in different layers of dorsal and ventral neck muscles during isometric neck muscle contraction in individuals after anterior cervical decompression and fusion and in healthy controls. This study included 10 individuals (mean age 60 years; SD 7.1) with a verified, long-standing neck disorder and 10 healthy, age- and sex-matched controls. Ultrasonography and post-process speckle tracking analysis was used to investigate the degree and the rate of neck muscles motions at the C4 segmental level during sub-maximal, isometric resistance of the head in a seated position. None of the analyses performed showed significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). In the dorsal muscles, both groups exhibited a higher deformation rate in the multifidus than in the trapezius, splenius, and semispinalis capitis (p ≤ 0.01). In the neck disorder group, the multifidus also showed a higher deformation rate compared to the semispinalis cervicis (p = 0.02). In the ventral muscles of patients with neck disorders, the longus colli had a higher deformation rate than the sternocleidomastoid (p = 0.02). Among the healthy controls, the multifidus showed a higher degree of deformation (p = 0.02) than the trapezius. In conclusion, our results showed no significant differences between the two groups in mechanical neck muscle activation. Larger studies with different exercises, preferably with a standardized measure of resistance, are needed to investigate whether patients and controls show differences in deformation and deformation rates in neck muscles.