Age- and sex-specific reference values of a test of neck muscle endurance.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluates age- and sex-specific reference values for neck muscle endurance (NME).


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, 116 randomly selected, healthy volunteers (ages 25-64 years) stratified according to age and gender participated. Dorsal and ventral NME was measured in seconds until exhaustion in a laying-down position. A weight of 4 kg for men or 2 kg for women was used in the dorsal procedure. The ventral procedure was performed without external load. Background and physical activity data were obtained and used in the analysis of NME performance.


RESULTS
Mean values for dorsal and ventral NME were about 7 and 2.5 minutes for men and 8.5 and 0.5 minutes for women, respectively. The cutoff values for subnormal dorsal and ventral NME were 157 and 56 seconds for men and 173 and 23 seconds for women, respectively. Women's NME was 122% of men's NME in the dorsal (P = .17) and 24% of men's NME in the ventral (P < .0001) procedure. There were no significant differences among age groups. In multiple regression analysis, physical activity explained 4% of variability in the performance of the dorsal NME; and sex explained 37% of the variability in the performance of ventral NME.


CONCLUSIONS
The reference values and the cutoff points obtained could be used in clinical practice to identify patients with a subnormal NME. Sex is an important consideration when using both the test procedure and the reference values.
Peolsson
Anneli
A
Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. anneli.peolsson@ihs.liu.se
Almkvist
Cecilia
C
Dahlberg
Camilla
C
Lindqvist
Sara
S
Pettersson
Susanne
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles; D009790:Occupations; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010807:Physical Endurance; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors