In the prevention and treatment of cervical region pathologies, various exercise methods are applied in the clinic. The clinical exercises vary according to the time and severity of the pathology but also according to the pathology itself. These exercises include exercises focusing on flexor or extensor muscles. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological changes in the neck muscles of cervical spinal stabilization exercises focused on flexor and extensor muscles applied to healthy individuals. At least 27 healthy male subjects between the age of 18-30 are planned to be included in the study. Individuals will be divided into 3 groups by simple randomization method. In one group cervical stabilization exercise program focused on the flexor muscles will be applied and the other group cervical stabilization exercise program focused on the extensor muscles will be applied for 8 weeks. Individuals in the control group will only be evaluated without exercise. In the study, by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method as the main evaluation, muscle anatomical cross-sectional area and T2 relaxation time measurements will be made and morphological changes in muscles will be determined. These evaluation procedures will be performed on longus colli, sternocleidomastoid, semispinalis cervicis, multifidus and upper trapezius muscles. As additional evaluation methods, muscle strength and muscle endurance tests, normal joint motion measurements, posture evaluation and MRI measurement of cervical spine curvature will be performed. All evaluations will be performed at the beginning and at the end of these 8 weeks and the effects of the exercises applied on the muscles in the two groups will be examined.
The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological changes in the neck muscles of cervical spinal stabilization exercises focused on flexor and extensor muscles applied to healthy individuals.