• Peolsson A
• Peolsson M

• Biomechanical Phenomena
• Head Movements / physiology
• Isometric Contraction / physiology
• Neck Muscles / diagnostic imaging
• Neck Muscles / physiology
• Pattern Recognition, Automated

Objective: This study aimed to describe and compare the longitudinal mechanical activity, deformation, and deformation rate of the different layers of dorsal and ventral neck muscles in healthy volunteers during head lifts against gravity.

Methods: The cross-sectional study included 19 healthy volunteers (mean age, 28 years; SD, 7 years). Ultrasound with speckle-tracking analysis was used to investigate longitudinal mechanical activation, deformation, and deformation rate of dorsal and ventral neck muscles in real time during a head lift. Significance levels were set as P = .025 or P = .0125, depending on the number of comparisons.

Results: The dorsal neck muscles did not significantly differ in deformation (P > .04); however, the multifidus had a higher deformation rate than all other dorsal muscles (P < .003). The sternocleidomastoid had significantly higher deformation than the longus capitis (P = .005) and colli (P = .001) but a lower deformation rate than the longus colli (P = .02).

Conclusion: The sternocleidomastoid deformed more than the deeper muscles, but it did significantly slower than the longus colli. Among the dorsal muscles, the deepest (the multifidus) had the highest deformation rate.

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