Abstract
To compare the effects of different neck eccentric training devices on the neck strength and endurance of aviation cadets, and to explore their roles in the prevention of neck injuries, providing a basis for introducing specialized neck training in adolescent aviation schools. Two intervention groups used a helmet-style neck training device and elastic bands for neck training, respectively, while the control group underwent regular resistance physical training without additional neck intervention. Tests were conducted on neck flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation in six directions before the intervention, and after 6 and 12 weeks. Significant time and group interaction effects were found in all six directions of neck strength indicators (F-values were 4.834, 8.496, 10.359, 6.849, 3.324, 2.405, p<0.05). The neck strength in all six directions significantly increased for both intervention groups at 6 and 12 weeks (P<0.05). In the control group, a significant increase in strength was observed in all directions except for extension at 6 weeks (P<0.05), but no significant changes were observed after 6 weeks (P>0.05). A significant time and group interaction effect was also found for endurance indicators (F=6.204, P<0.01). All three groups showed a significant increase in neck endurance at 6 weeks, but no significant changes were observed in the elastic band group and the control group after 6 weeks (P>0.05); the helmet group showed significantly higher neck endurance at 12 weeks (103.55 ±47.68) seconds, (P<0.01). Both 12-week helmet-style neck training and elastic band neck training can enhance trainee neck strength and flexural endurance, with the helmet-style training showing a more significant improvement in neck endurance.
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Data availability
The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request
Code availability
The code provided in this study is real and usable.
Materials availability
This study uses external physical testing devices, which will not produce side effects to people, and is safe and easy to implement.
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Funding
This work was supported by the National Defense Science and Technology Innovation Special Zone Project (18-163-15-ZT-001-002-07)
and the Shanxi Province Education Science Planning Key Project (ZGF-19001).
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Lu hao is responsible for determining the research direction, formulating the research framework and writing the first draft; Zhao dingyu is responsible for the later modification of the article and statistical analysis data; Jia xueru is responsible for the experiment and data collection. The corresponding author received a submission invitation from this journal and was advised to submit the manuscript.
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This study was approved by the Sports Science Experimental Ethics Committee of Beijing Sport University, and the research methods were conducted in accordance with the approved guidelines. All participants provided informed consent prior to the experiment.
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Luo, H., Zhao, D. & Jia, X. The effects of different neck training methods on the neck function of aviation cadets. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34819-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34819-1
