• Barbara Cagnie, Ann Cools, Veerle De Loose, Dirk Cambier, and Lieven Danneels.
• Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
• Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2007 Nov 1; 88 (11): 1441-5.

ObjectivesTo determine the intra- and interrater reliability of the Biodex isokinetic dynamometer to measure the maximal isometric strength of the cervical flexors and extensors, to develop an age- and sex-based normative database in a healthy population, and to evaluate the differences in neck strength between women with chronic neck pain and healthy controls.DesignCross-sectional.SettingPhysical and rehabilitation medicine department.ParticipantsNinety-six healthy volunteers (4 age groups: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59y; each consisting of 12 men and 12 women) and 30 women with chronic neck pain.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresPeak isometric strength of the cervical muscles was tested for flexion and extension by using the Biodex isokinetic dynamometer. The intra- and interrater reliability of the protocol was evaluated in 12 volunteers.ResultsThe reliability for strength was high for both flexion and extension (intraclass correlation coefficient, .92-.96). The mean peak torque for flexion and extension was significantly higher in men (24Nm, 36.4Nm, respectively) compared with women (16.6Nm, 26.5Nm, respectively) (P<.001). Peak torque production for extension was significantly lower in the patient group (22.3Nm) compared with the healthy female control group (26.5Nm) (P=.003). No significant differences in flexion strength between patient and female control group were found.ConclusionsResults show a high degree of intra- and interrater reliability in measuring isometric neck muscle strength when using the Biodex isokinetic dynamometer. The use of normative data for neck strength when evaluating patients with neck disorders needs to take sex into account. The current study has shown that women with chronic neck pain have lower neck muscle strength in extension than the healthy female group.

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