Reliability of isometric muscle endurance tests in subjects with postural neck pain.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of 3 isometric muscle endurance tests in subjects with postural neck pain.


METHODS
Twenty-one subjects with chronic postural neck pain performed 3 submaximal muscle tests twice on the first occasion and once at the second session 3 days later. The tests examined isometric neck flexion, neck extension, and scapular muscle endurance.


RESULTS
Reliability was excellent for the neck flexor test (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0 93), moderate for the scapular test (ICC = 0.67), and good for the neck extensor test (ICC = 0 88). The standard error of measure for the tests was 6.4, 10.9, and 25.9 seconds, respectively. The minimum change required to represent real change in muscle endurance was 17.8 seconds for the neck flexor test, 30.1 seconds for the scapular test, and 71.3 seconds for the neck extensor test.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed the reliability of 3 cervical spine and shoulder girdle submaximal muscle endurance tests in patients with postural neck pain.
School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, PO Box U1987, Perth 6845, Western Australia. s.edmondston@curtin.edu.au
Stephen J
SJ
Edmondston
Magnus E
ME
Wallumrød
Fiachra
F
Macléid
Lars S
LS
Kvamme
Sandra
S
Joebges
Glen C
GC
Brabham
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance; D011336:Probability; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology