title: A new device for measuring isometric force of the craniocervical flexor and extensor muscles and its reliability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Craniocervical (CC) muscles control posture of the CC area. Muscle imbalance at this area induces musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study was to develop a device for measuring isometric force of CC flexor and extensor muscles and to evaluate its intra-rater reliability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isometric force of CC flexor and extensor muscles was measured in 20 women by one examiner on two days with a custom-made device. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurements (SEM), smallest detectable difference (SDD), and Pearson correlation coefficient were computed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study revealed that this device had excellent reliability (ICC: 0.98, SEM: 2.29 N, SDD: 6.36 N, Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.97 for CC flexor muscles and ICC: 0.97, SEM: 2.13 N, SDD: 5.91 N, Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.94 for CC extensor muscles).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This new device can improve knowledge about the CC muscle and efficacy of treatments in patients with poor posture.
authors.affiliation: a Students' Research Committee , School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Fateme
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7423-8175
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bokaee
authors.affiliation: b Physiotherapy Research Centre, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Asghar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezasoltani
authors.affiliation: c School of Rehabilitation, Department of physiotherapy , Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Farideh Dehghan
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Manshadi
authors.affiliation: c School of Rehabilitation, Department of physiotherapy , Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Sedigheh Sadat
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Naimi
authors.affiliation: d Department of Basic Sciences, Physiotherapy Research Centre, School of Rehabilitation , Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbarzadeh Baghban
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D019416:Head Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Craniocervical; Force; Isometric; Muscle; Posture; Reliability; Women