Neck muscle ultrasonography of male weight-lifters, wrestlers and controls

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the effect of dif ferent sport training regimens on the size of the neck semispinalis capitis muscle (SECM). The cross-sectional area (CSA) and the linear dimensions of the SECM were measured bilaterally by real-time ultrasonography. Ten young Finnish elite level weight-lifters, 8 freestyle wrestlers and 10 controls (all male) participated in the study. Muscle CSA was significantly larger i n wrestlers than in weight-lifters or controls (P<0.001). There was no sign ificant difference in size between the right and left SECM in any of the su bject groups, but the variation between sides (smaller vs. larger) was sign ificantly higher in wrestlers than weight-lifters (P<0.05). CSA correlated with the multiplied linear dimensions (r=0.80, P<0.000). Neck muscle: ultra sonography appeared to be a useful method in evaluating the differences bet ween two groups of athletes.