Web-Based Exercise Program Increases Cervical Strength in Adolescent Athletes

Abstract

Wilson, JC, Levek, C, Daoud, AK, Brewer, M, Brooks, K, Sochanska, A, Randall, M, and Provance, AJ. Web-based exercise program increases cervical strength in adolescent athletes. J Strength Cond Res 35(4): 1149–1155, 2021—This cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a web-based 6-week cervical strengthening program on cervical strength in adolescent athletes. It was hypothesized that subjects completing the program would demonstrate significant increase in cervical muscle strength compared with baseline strength. Eighty-three high school soccer athlete subjects were recruited from 2 local nationally competitive soccer clubs. Teams were assigned to either control or intervention groups to minimize information crossover. Fifty subjects were recruited to the intervention group (29 male, 21 female; average age 15.1 years). Thirty-three subjects were recruited to the control group (21 male, 12 female; average age 15.1 years). Intervention group subjects completed a web-based progressive cervical strengthening program over 6 weeks. Cervical strength in flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion (LLF) was measured in Newton (N) of force at 3 time points during the competitive season for both control and intervention groups. Intervention group subjects significantly increased cervical strength [mean difference (95% confidence interval)] in LLF [24.1 (15.9–32.4)], extension [27.9 (18.4–37.5)], right lateral flexion [18.8 (11.6–26.1)], and flexion [mean ratio: 1.2 (1.1–1.2)] at follow-up testing; whereas control subjects did not see significant changes in strength. A web-based progressive cervical strengthening program improves cervical muscular strength in a population of adolescent athletes over a period of 6 weeks. Such a program could be used by researchers in future studies evaluating the influence on concussion risk and by practitioners as a means of reducing sport-related head and neck injuries.

Neck and Trunk Strength Training to Mitigate Head Acceleration in Youth Soccer Players

“…All subjects safely completed the intervention, indicating the feasibility of neck and trunk targeting resistance exercises in youth soccer. Effects on cervical strength are comparable with those reported in recent studies targeting neck strength in adolescent soccer athletes (39) and in football players aged 18-23 years (38). Similar to previous studies on the effects of cervical strength training programs on head kinematics after force application (14,26) or an American football tackle (25), but contrary to a 6week strength training of neck flexors and extensors (4), we found beneficial effects on all strength variables that were superior to any changes observed in controls with the exception of lateral flexion asymmetry and CROM.…”

Gamifying App-Based Low-Intensity Psychological Interventions to Prevent Sports Injuries in Young Athletes: A Review and Some Guidelines

“…Wilson et al [ 33 ] have recently developed and tested the efficacy of a web-based program to increase cervical strength in adolescents. The program includes a set of exercises to be self-administered through a web site which provides with written and video recorded instructions.…”

“…Wilson et al [ 33 ] carried out a cohort observational study comparing a group which received the intervention and a group which did not received any specific neck strength training. Results showed young athletes who received the intervention increased their cervical muscle strength after benefit from the program while the control group did not show any significant strength improvement.…”