Publications
Effects of Neck Muscle Tone on Static and Dynamic Balance in Healthy Participants
Authors: Ming-Yu Tian 1, Myoung-Ho Lee 1, Myoung-Kwon Kim 2
Affiliations:
- Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Daegu University, Republic of Korea
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Daegu University, Republic of Korea
Journal: Journal of The Korean Society of Physical Medicine - May 2025, Volume 20, Issue 2, Pages 33-46 (DOI: 10.13066/kspm.2025.20.2.33)
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Field & Applications:
- Medical
- Balance / Postural control
- Musculoskeletal health
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
This study highlights the significant influence of neck muscle tone on static and dynamic balance in healthy individuals. The findings reveal that increased upper trapezius muscle tone is associated with a decline in balance performance, particularly dynamic balance in the anterior reach direction. Static balance was also affected, as evidenced by increased center of pressure movement with both eyes open and closed. These results emphasize the crucial role of neck muscle tone and its interaction with the vestibulocollic and cervicocollic reflexes in balance regulation. Relieving excessive neck muscle tone could serve as an effective strategy for improving balance in therapeutic settings.