Neck Muscle Activity and 3-D Head Kinematics During Quasi-Static and Dynamic Tracking Movements

This study examined sex differences in head kinematics and neck muscle activity during sudden head perturbations. Sixteen competitive ice hockey players participated. Three muscles were monitored bilaterally using surface electromyography: sternocleidomastoid, scalene, and splenius capitis. Head and thorax kinematics were measured. Head perturbations were induced by the release of a 1.5-kg weight attached to a wire wrapped around an adjustable pulley secured to the participant’s head. Perturbations were delivered in 4 directions (flexion, extension, right lateral bend, and left lateral bend). Muscle onset times, muscle activity, and head kinematics were examined during 3 time periods (2 preperturbation and 1 postperturbation). Females had significantly greater head acceleration during left lateral bend (31.4%, P < .05) and flexion (37.9%, P = .01). Females had faster muscle onset times during flexion (females = 51 ± 11 ms; males = 61 ± 10 ms; P = .001) and slower onset times during left lateral bend and extension. Females had greater left/right sternocleidomastoid and scalene activity during extension (P = .01), with no difference in head acceleration. No consistent neuromuscular strategy could explain all directional sex differences. Females had greater muscle activity postperturbation during extension, suggesting a neuromuscular response to counter sudden acceleration, possibly explaining the lack of head acceleration differences.

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On-track Measurements in Motocross: The Correlation of Neck Muscle Activity and Contact Incidents of Helmet and Neck Brace

Procedia Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.proeng.2016.06.254 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 147 ◽

pp. 613-617

Author(s):

Gerrit Thiele ◽

Patricia Kafka ◽

Stefan Litzenberger ◽

Anton Sabo

Keyword(s):

Muscle Activity ◽

Neck Muscle

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Attenuation of human neck muscle activity following repeated imposed trunk-forward linear acceleration

Experimental Brain Research ◽

10.1007/s00221-003-1466-9 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 150 (4) ◽

pp. 458-464 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

Jean-Sébastien Blouin ◽

Martin Descarreaux ◽

Ariane Bélanger-Gravel ◽

Martin Simoneau ◽

Normand Teasdale

Keyword(s):

Muscle Activity ◽

Linear Acceleration ◽

Neck Muscle

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Head Movements and Neck Muscle Activity During Air Combat Maneuvering

Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance ◽

10.3357/amhp.5425.2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 91 (1) ◽

pp. 26-31 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Roope Sovelius ◽

Maunu Mäntylä ◽

Heini Huhtala ◽

Juha Oksa ◽

Rasmus Valtonen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Activity ◽

Muscular Activity ◽

Head Movements ◽

Neck Muscle ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Sitting Posture ◽

Field Of Vision ◽

Air Combat ◽

The Difference ◽

Neutral Posture

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics of cervical muscle activity in different head movements when using helmet mounted display in air combat maneuvering.METHODS: Cervical EMG was measured with eight F/A-18 pilots using the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) during air combat maneuvering. In-flight Gz acceleration and continuous head position were recorded. Muscular activity was compared between head movements in isolation and combined with torso movement. In addition, the effect of the direction of head movements and the use of head support of the ejection seat on muscle activity was determined.RESULTS: Muscular loading increased in the cervical flexors and extensors when using the torso during targeting beyond the field of vision in the neutral sitting posture; the difference was significant in the flexors, but activity levels were higher in the extensors. Cervical muscles are loaded to a lesser extent if the head is kept in a stable position during Gz loading. Muscular activity in the neck muscles was higher when the pilot was moving the head out of neutral posture rather than toward neutral posture. The use of the headrest as a support decreased muscle activity in the extensors, but resulted in higher activity in the flexor muscles.DISCUSSION: All analyzed conditions were significantly affected by an increase in Gz. An increase of muscle activity with torso movements is considered as a positive factor as it reflects maintained muscular support for the cervical spine. Presented results may be helpful when specific conditioning programs and cockpit ergonomics are developed for fighter pilots.Sovelius R, Mäntylä M, Huhtala H, Oksa J, Valtonen R, Tiitola L, Leino T. Head movements and neck muscle activity during air combat maneuvering. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(1):26–31.

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Step-tracking movements of the wrist. III. Influence of changes in load on patterns of muscle activity

Journal of Neuroscience ◽

10.1523/jneurosci.13-12-05212.1993 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 5212-5227 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

DS Hoffman ◽

PL Strick

Keyword(s):

Muscle Activity ◽

Tracking Movements

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Improved neck posture and reduced neck muscle activity when using a novel camera based workstation for manual precision inspection tasks

Applied Ergonomics ◽

10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103147 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 90 ◽

pp. 103147

Author(s):

Julia Gräf ◽

Klaus Mattes ◽

Kerstin Luedtke ◽

Bettina Wollesen

Keyword(s):

Muscle Activity ◽

Neck Muscle ◽

Precision Inspection ◽

Inspection Tasks

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Coherence of jaw and neck muscle activity during sleep bruxism

Journal of Oral Rehabilitation ◽

10.1111/joor.12932 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 432-440 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Simone Gouw ◽

Angela Frowein ◽

Carlijn Braem ◽

Anton Wijer ◽

Nico H. J. Creugers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Activity ◽

Sleep Bruxism ◽

Neck Muscle

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Relationship Between Sleep, Neck Muscle Activity, and Pain in Cervical Dystonia

Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques ◽

10.1017/s0317167100038233 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 285-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Frank Lobbezoo ◽

Marc Thu Thon ◽

Guy Rémillard ◽

Jacques Y. Montplaisir ◽

Gilles J. Lavigne

Keyword(s):

Muscle Activity ◽

Cervical Dystonia ◽

Nrem Sleep ◽

Spinal Pain ◽

Spasmodic Torticollis ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Emg Activity ◽

Neck Muscle ◽

Upper Trapezius ◽

Before And After

AbstractObjective: The interactions between sleep, neck muscle activity, and cervical spinal pain were examined in a controlled study with nine patients suffering from idiopathic cervical dystonia (ICD; also referred to as spasmodic torticollis), and nine gender- and age-matched controls. Methods: From each participant, two all-night polysomnograms with additional electromyographic recordings from the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles were obtained. The first night was for habituation to the laboratory environment; the second night for experimental data collection. Visual analogue scales were used to collect intensity and unpleasantness ratings of cervical spinal pain before and after the second sleep recording. Results: None of the standard sleep variables showed statistically significant differences between average values of both groups of participants. However, a significantly larger variance in sleep latency was obtained for the ICD patients. In general, abnormal cervical muscle activity decreased immediately when lying down without the intention to go to sleep. Subsequently, abnormal muscle contractions were gradually abolished in all ICD patients during the transition from relaxed wakefulness to light NREM sleep. Following this transition phase, no more abnormal EMG activity was found in any of our patients. Finally, cervical spinal pain intensity and unpleasantness were reduced by about 50% overnight. Conclusions: Both supine position and sleep can be associated with an improvement of symptoms of ICD, and this disorder does not induce any sleep perturbations.

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