Objective: To calculate the neck muscle strain rates in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and evaluate the differences between the OSA and control groups.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-five patients with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index, AHI>15) and 25 healthy controls (AHI<5) matched for age, sex, and body mass index were included in the study. Compression elastography was applied to neck muscle structures. The muscle strain rate was calculated by proportioning the neck muscle strain values to the subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the neck muscle strain rate of the patient and control groups (P>0.05) . Among the cases evaluated, the highest and lowest strain rates were observed in the semispinalis capitis and trapezius muscles, respectively.

Conclusion: There is no increase in the stiffness of the neck muscles in patients with OSA. Among the muscles examined, the semispinalis capitis had the highest and trapezius had the lowest muscle stiffness.