Investigation of morphological changes of cervical spinal stabilization exercise programs focused on flexor and extensor muscles in cervical muscles by magnetic resonance imaging in healthy individuals

This study was planned to investigate the effects of cervical spinal stabilization (CSS) exercise programs focused on flexor and extensor muscles in cervical region. Twenty-seven healthy volunteer male university students were included in the study. Evaluations consisting of T2 relaxation time and anatomical cross-sectional area measurements, strength and endurance measurements of cervical muscles, measurement of joint range of motion and posture analysis were applied to all individuals participating in the study twice, before the exercise program started and after the 8-week exercise program. The individuals were divided into 3 groups as "flexion focused" and "extension focused" CSS exercise groups and "control group". CSS exercises focused on flexion in one group and extension in the other group were applied to individuals in both exercise groups twice a week for a total of 8 weeks. No application was applied to the individuals in the control group. Evaluations were applied to all individuals twice, before the exercise programs started and after the 8-week exercise programs. An increase was observed in T2 relaxation times which show the activation of deep FMs and EMs, cervical region muscle strengths, endurance measurements, range of motion of some movements in cervical region, results of posture analysis in both study groups (p <0.05). A significant increase was seen in the cross-sectional areas of both deep flexor and extensor muscles in the flexion focused CSS exercise group and the cross-sectional area of all muscles except the superficial flexor muscles in the extension focused CSS exercise group after the study (p <0.05). In our study, it was concluded that both exercise programs were effective in the both muscle groups. It was thought that our study would guide the other studies that will be planned in the future.