Semester of Graduation

Summer 2026

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Kinesiology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Background: The cervical spine contributes critically to proprioception and postural control through its dense mechanoreceptor population. The acute effects of asymmetrical cervical muscle fatigue on proprioception, gait, and balance remain understudied, especially considering its widespread occurrence in multiple populations.

Objective: To investigate the acute effects of asymmetrical cervical muscle fatigue on cervical proprioception, stepping ability, and standing postural sway in healthy young adults.

Methods: Eighteen of 25 healthy participants, who met the inclusion criterion of baseline cervical joint position error (CJPE) below 4.5° for left and right rotational directions, completed pre-fatigue and post-fatigue assessments with eyes closed, including CJPE test, stepping-in-place for 30 s, and standing still for 45 s. From a supine position with flexed knees on an evaluation table, participants performed a chin-tuck protocol lifting their head 2 cm above the surface while resisting a lateral leftward pull of a Thera-Band until fatigued (failure to hold the position). We used paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to assess for potential pre-post fatigue differences.

Results: Fatigue significantly increased three-dimensional CJPE (3D-CJPE) for left and right rotations (p < .01) with no changes in 3D-CJPE for flexion or extension (p > .05). During stepping, absolute anterior-posterior displacement, lateral displacement, body rotation, cadence, and step time, changed after fatigue (p < .05). Measures of postural sway did not significantly change across participants after fatigue. Post-fatigue 3D-CJPE for left rotation positively correlated with mediolateral displacement after 30 s of stepping-in-place (r = 0.60, p = .008) to show greater right rotation 3D-CJPE associated with the greater leftward drift. Left rotation 3D-CJPE correlated with larger step length variability (r = 0.57, p = .014) to indicate less consistency in step lengths with greater left rotation 3D-CJPE.

Conclusion: Inducing asymmetric cervical muscle fatigue through failure to hold the chin-tuck head lift with lateral resistance impaired horizontal-plane cervical proprioception and altered stepping behavior in healthy young adults. Greater rotational proprioceptive errors associated with aspects of stepping to support a direct relationship between rotational cervical proprioception deficits and stepping control.

Date

5-22-2026

Committee Chair

Jan m Hondzinski

LSU Acknowledgement

1

LSU Accessibility Acknowledgment

1

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