Effects of Neck Muscle Tone on Static and Dynamic Balance in Healthy Participants

Ming-Yu Tian; Myoung-Ho Lee (이명호); Kim Meung Kwon (김명권)

Effects of Neck Muscle Tone on Static and Dynamic Balance in Healthy Participants

Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
Abbr : J Korean Soc Phys Med
2025, 20(2), pp.33~46
Publisher : The Korean Society of Physical Medicine
Research Area : Medicine and Pharmacy > Physical Therapy > Other physical therapy
Received : March 27, 2025
Accepted : May 13, 2025
Published : May 31, 2025

Ming-Yu Tian ¹, Myoung-Ho Lee ², Kim Meung Kwon ³

¹대구대
²대구대학교 일반대학원
³대구대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of neck muscle tone on the dynamic and static balance of the lower limbs in healthy participants. METHODS: In this study, 30 healthy participants and four sets of neck muscle tone tests with different weights (0, 1, 2, and 3 kg) were conducted. In the test, a strap tied to the head was connected with a weight-bearing device to apply a constant impedance to the neck, and the trunk of the subject was fixed during the experiment to ensure that the neck was weight-bearing. At the end of each test, the dynamic and static balance function, sternocleidomastoid muscle tension and upper trapezius muscle tension were measured. The dynamic and static balance, sternocleidomastoid muscle tone, and upper trapezius muscle tone were measured at the end of each test. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference observed in the sternocleidomastoid muscle tone (p = .059), but a statistically significant increase was observed in the upper trapezius muscle tone(p = .018*). Simultaneously, both static balance (anterior reach, p < .001***) and dynamic (moving area with eyes open, p < .001***; moving area with eyes closed, p < .001***; average speed with eyes open, p = .013*) balance showed varying degrees of decline. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that the increase in neck muscle tone increases the swing of dynamic balance and static balance in healthy people, and muscle tone was significantly correlated with dynamic balance. In healthy individuals, relieving neck muscle tone is helpful for dynamic and static balance.

KEYWORDS

Dynamic balance, Muscle elasticity, Muscle stiffness, Neck muscle tone, Static balance

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2025 are currently being built.

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