Resistance Band Exercise Regimen Effects on Cervical Spine Range of Motion, Strength, and Muscular Control

Recent reviews of the Defense Medical Surveillance System database show intervertebral disc and cervical spine disorders among the top ten ambulatory diagnoses for all military services. Furthermore, reports show that neck pain is even more prevalent (43-48 percent) in rotary-wing pilots within the U.S. military. Approximately 20 percent of U.S. military rotary-wing pilots with neck pain experienced regular or continuous pain. Increasing cervical spine strength has been shown to decrease neck pain in clinical settings and improve muscle performance in aviators. This study conducted a series of prospective trial interventions to determine the effects of cervical spine directed resistance band exercises on cervical spine strength, range of motion, and control in military aviators. Subjects performed five resistance band exercises for two sets of 10-15 repetitions once a day, five days a week, for six weeks. Cervical spine range of motion (CROM) increased significantly in all measured planes. Isometric strength increased for both flexion and extension, but only extension was found to be significant. Muscular control for both flexion and extension increased significantly. The findings of this study demonstrate that a cervical spine directed resistance band exercise regimen is an effective method for increasing CROM, isometric strength, and muscular control, which may reduce pain.