title: Effects of neck strength training on isometric neck strength in rugby union players.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of a neck strengthening program on the isometric neck strength profile of male rugby union players.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Professional rugby union club.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen professional and 10 semiprofessional rugby union players.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 15 professional players undertook a 5-week neck strengthening intervention, which was performed twice per week, whereas the 10 semiprofessional players acted as the control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isometric strength of the neck musculature was tested using a hand-held dynamometer, for flexion (F), extension (E), left-side flexion (LSF), and right-side flexion (RSF). Preintervention and postintervention evaluations were undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant between-group differences in isometric neck strength were noted preintervention. A significant main effect for time was observed (P < 0.05), whereby the intervention group increased isometric neck strength in all planes after the 5-week intervention (F preintervention = 334.45 ± 39.31 N vs F postintervention 396.05 ± 75.55 N; E preintervention = 606.19 ± 97.34 vs E postintervention = 733.88 ± 127.16 N; LSF preintervention = 555.56 ± 88.34 N vs LSF postintervention = 657.14 ± 122.99 N; RSF preintervention = 570.00 ± 106.53 N vs RSF postintervention = 668.00 ± 142.18 N). No significant improvement in neck strength was observed for control group participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study indicate that a 5-week neck strengthening program improves isometric neck strength in rugby union players, which may have implications for injury prevention, screening, and rehabilitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The strengthening program described in the present study may facilitate rehabilitation specialists in the development of neck injury prevention, screening, and rehabilitation protocols.
authors.affiliation: *Ulster Rugby, Irish Rugby Football Union, Belfast, Northern Ireland; †USA Rugby Sports Medicine, Boulder, Colorado; ‡School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; and §Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Geary
authors.forename: Brian S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Eamonn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delahunt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult