Affiliation:
1. School of Health Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia; Center for Brain and Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; and Recover Injury Research Centre, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Recovery Following Road Traffic Injuries, The University of Queensland, Herston,
2. School of Health Sciences, The University of Newcastle; Center for Brain and Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle; and Hunter Medical Research Institute
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Cervical sensorimotor control (CSMC) outcomes have been suggested to be important in the assessment of individuals with neck pain, despite the lack of consistent supporting evidence that CSMC skills are related to neck pain.
Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate whether CSMC changes over time in individuals with chronic idiopathic neck pain and whether neck pain characteristics are associated with CSMC.
Design
A longitudinal observational study was performed.
Methods
A total 50 participants with chronic idiopathic neck pain and 50 matched participants who were healthy (controls) completed 7 CSMC tests (including 14 test conditions): joint position error, postural balance, subjective visual vertical, head tilt response, The Fly, smooth pursuit neck torsion, and head steadiness. Neck pain characteristics included pain intensity (visual analog scale), pain duration, and neck disability (Neck Disability Index). Linear mixed models were used to investigate whether any factors were associated with changes in CSMC.
Results
Neck pain intensity was associated with 1 of 14 CSMC test conditions (balance with torsion and eyes open), and neck disability was associated with balance with eyes open and high-load head steadiness. Other factors, including sex, age, body mass index, physical activity levels, and neck pain duration, showed no association with CSMC.
Limitations
Although all other tests involved computerized data collection, the joint position error test was administered manually, introducing the risk of researcher bias.
Conclusions
The few associations between test conditions and neck pain characteristics were at best weak; hence, these are likely to be chance findings. These results suggest that CSMC may not be associated with improvement/worsening of chronic idiopathic neck pain, spawning debate on the clinical usefulness of CSMC tests.
Funder
Felicity and Michael Thomson through the Hunter Medical Research Institute
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Subject
Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Cited by
11 articles.
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