Does cervical proprioception affect hand dexterity of physiotherapists with and without mechanical neck pain?

Abstract

Purposes. This study was conducted to compare between cervical proprioception and hand dexterity in physiotherapists with and without mechanical neck pain, and to determine the relationship between cervical proprioception and hand dexterity in physiotherapists. Materials and methods. Sixty physiotherapists (30 with chronic mechanical neck pain (G1), mild to moderate neck pain lasted more than 6 months and 30 healthy control (GII)). Both sexes were enrolled with; age ranged from 25 to 35 years, normal body mass index (BMI) and at least one year of practice of manual work. All participants undergone evaluation of cervical joint position error (JPE) using cervical range of motion device (CROM) through head-to-neutral repositioning (NHR) and head-to-target repositioning (THR) tests in flexion direction in addition to evaluation of hand dexterity using Purdue pegboard test. Results. There was statistically significant difference in median values of JPE and hand dexterity between both groups. There was statistically significant indirect medium to strong correlation between JPE in flexion (NHR and THR) and hand dexterity (in dominant and assembly tests). Conclusions. Physiotherapists with neck pain have impairment in cervical proprioception which in turn negatively affects hand dexterity. Hand dexterity is important functional property for physiotherapist to apply different manual techniques. So, impairment of hand dexterity may interfere with the efficiency of manual application.