DOES MOTIVATION AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE IN CLINICAL TESTS OF ENDURANCE OF DEEP NECK FLEXORS?

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the performance in two clinical tests for the endurance of deep neck flexors [Craniocervical Flexion Test (CCFT) and Chin Tuck Neck Flexion Test (CTNFT)] and the motivation of participants to continue and complete physical activities. Twenty-one healthy volunteers participated (men/women 13/8, age 21.1[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]1.37 years). Participants were asked to complete the Assessment Scale for Completion of Usual Physical Activities (ASCUPA), the Short Scale of Physical Activity Motives (SSPAM), a visual analog scale for the recording of their motivation to complete a physical activity (VAS motivation) and then they performed the CCFT and CTNFT. The CCFT did not present any significant correlation with either VAS motivation or ASCUPA. The CTNFT was not significantly associated with VAS motivation, but it was significantly correlated with ASCUPA ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). Furthermore, the CTNFT was significantly correlated with the total number of motives for physical activity ([Formula: see text]). The correlation between the performance of the two tests was not significant ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). The findings suggest that only the CTNFT is dependent on participants’ motivation to complete an activity.