Neck muscle strength
craniocervical flexion
WEST, CONTRACTION, CONTRACTIONS
Neck muscle strength was assessed with a hand-held dynamometer (Advanced Force Gauge, 2500 N; Mecmesin, West Sussex, UK). Participants were briefed about the procedure and went through a trial in the limbs for familiarization. Before the neck muscles assessment, participants performed warm-up exercises by doing 10 active repetitions of neck flexion, extension, and right and left side flexion. The testing procedure consisted of three consecutive isometric contractions held for three seconds for each of the four neck movements (extension, flexion, right and left side flexion), with 30 s of rest between repetitions. For neck flexors, the head was held slightly above the plinth and with craniocervical flexion and participants were instructed to push against the dynamometer placed on the center of the forehead above the eyebrows [Resistance was set at a rate of about 3 kg/s and the maximum isometric strength value was recorded at the peak of the participant’s ability to maintain contraction [