Article

The sternocleidomastoid (SCM) is an important cervical spine muscle.
Weakness of the SCM muscle has been implicated with cervical problems. No studies
have examined the reliability of assessing the SCM muscle length or strength.
Also no studies exist that have looked to see if imbalances in SCM muscle length
or strength exists between the left and right sides in those with and without
neck pain. OBJECTIVE: To determine the reliability of assessing the SCM muscle
for length and strength and to see if SCM length could predict SCM strength in
those with and without neck pain. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS:
Fifty-one subjects with and without mild neck pain. ANALYSIS: Intratester
reliability was assessed for SCM muscle length and SCM muscle strength.
Differences in SCM length and strength were examined in those with and without
neck pain. RESULTS: Intratester reliability was shown to be excellent (ICC (2,2)
> 0.90) for the left and right SCM when assessing muscle length and muscle
strength for those with and without neck pain. No differences were noted when
comparing left to right SCM between those with and without neck pain regarding
muscle length or muscle strength. Neither regression models were able to predict
SCM muscle strength from SCM muscle length. CONCLUSION: SCM muscle length and SCM
strength can be reliably assessed using a bubble goniometer and HHD. No
differences were found when comparing left to right SCM muscle length or strength
in those with or without mild neck pain.

Langue : ANGLAIS