Progressive Resistance Neck Exercises Using a Compressible Ball Coupled with an Air Pressure Gauge

Kenneth Axen, PhD1
Francois Haas, PhD2
John Schicchi, MD3
John Merrick, MA PTDC4

Reproduction of the Original RESEARCH STUDY published in
JOSPT;Vol16, #6, Dec92

Strengthening of neck muscles, a potentially important approach to injury prevention and rehabilitation, has been limited by the lack of a convenient means of instituting progressive resistive exercise (PRE) programs. By positioning a compressible ball coupled with an air pressure gauge between the head and wall, eight men, ranging in age from 21 to 46 years, initially measured the maximum voluntary pressure (MVP) generated within the ball (a measure of neck muscle force), while maximally flexing, extending and laterally flexing their heads into the ball. In accordance with PRE principles, they can then performed three sets of 10 repetitions of each motion while maintaining ball pressure at 60 -- 80% of the measured to the MVP. This training program consisting of three to five sessions per week for 4 7 weeks: 1) increase the MVP for flexion [to 156+/- 9% (SE) pretraining, P. < 0.05], extension [to 162+/- 11 % (SE) a pretraining, p < 0.05] , and lateral flexion [to 173 +/- 12% (SE) pretraining, P. < 0.50]; and 2) decreased the disparity between the MVP's for left and right lateral flexion, indicating that the weaker size showed greater improvement than a stronger side (P. < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that progressive resistive neck exercises, facilitated by a compressible ball coupled with an air pressure gauge, can markedly increased neck muscle strength and decreased lateral force imbalance.

Key Words: Cervical Muscles, Muscle Strength, Resistive Exercise