scholarly journals A New Method of Isometric Dynamometry for the Craniocervical Flexor Muscles

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 556-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaun P O'Leary ◽  
Bill T Vicenzino ◽  
Gwendolen A Jull
Keyword(s):  
Neck Pain ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
New Method ◽  
Muscle Performance ◽  
Neutral Position ◽  
Flexor Muscle ◽  
Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction ◽  
Good Reliability ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background and Purpose. A new method of dynamometry has been developed to measure the performance of the craniocervical (CC) flexor muscles by recording the torque that these muscles exert on the cranium around the CC junction. This report describes the method, the specifications of the instrument, and the preliminary reliability data. Subjects and Methods. For the reliability study, 20 subjects (12 subjects with a history of neck pain, 8 subjects without a history of neck pain) performed, on 2 occasions, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) tests of CC flexion in 3 positions within the range of CC flexion and submaximal sustained tests (20% and 50% of MVIC) in the middle range of CC flexion (craniocervical neutral position). Reliability coefficients were calculated to establish the test-retest reliability of the measurements. Results. The method demonstrated good reliability over 2 sessions in the measurement of MVIC (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]=.79–.93, SEM=0.6–1.4 N·m) and in the measurement of steadiness (standard deviation of torque amplitude) of a sustained contraction at 20% of MVIC (ICC=.74–.80, SEM=0.01 N·m), but not at 50% of MVIC (ICC=.07–.76, SEM=0.04–0.13 N·m). Discussion and Conclusion. The new dynamometry method appears to have potential clinical application in the measurement of craniocervical flexor muscle performance.

EFFICACY OF PRESSURE-BIOFEEDBACK GUIDED DEEP CERVICAL FLEXOR TRAINING ON NECK PAIN AND MUSCLE PERFORMANCE IN VISUAL DISPLAY TERMINAL OPERATORS

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (03) ◽  
pp. 1350011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Nezamuddin ◽  
Shahnawaz Anwer ◽  
Sohrab Ahmad Khan ◽  
Ameed Equebal
Keyword(s):  
Neck Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Visual Display ◽  
Muscle Performance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Women Patients ◽  
Flexor Muscle ◽  
Visual Display Terminal ◽  
Pressure Biofeedback

Purpose: This randomized trial study compared the efficacy of pressure-biofeedback guided deep cervical flexor training as an adjunct with conventional exercise on pain and muscle performance in visually displayed terminal operators. Methods: A total of 50 (22 men and 28 women) patients with neck pain participated in the study. Patients were randomly placed into two groups: a biofeedback group (n = 25) and a control group (n = 25). The biofeedback group received pressure-biofeedback guided deep cervical flexor training program for 5 days a week for 6 weeks, whereas the control group received an exercise program only. Results: On intergroup comparisons, the deep cervical flexor performance in biofeedback group, at the end of 6th week was significantly higher than those of control group (p < 0.01). Pain intensity was also significantly reduced in biofeedback group when compared to control group at the end of trial (p < 0.004). Conclusion: The addition of pressure-biofeedback to a 6-week conventional program appeared to increase deep cervical flexor muscle performance, compared to the exercise program alone for people with reduced muscle performance.

scholarly journals Reliability of a Measurement of Neck Flexor Muscle Endurance

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (12) ◽  
pp. 1349-1355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin D Harris ◽  
Darren M Heer ◽  
Tanja C Roy ◽  
Diane M Santos ◽  
Julie M Whitman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neck Pain ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Interrater Reliability ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Test Session ◽  
Muscle Endurance ◽  
Flexor Muscle ◽  
Endurance Test ◽  
Initial Session ◽  
Standard Error Of Measurement

Abstract Background and Purpose. Neck flexor muscle endurance has been negatively correlated with cervical pain and dysfunction. The purposes of this study were to determine rater reliability in subjects both withand without neck pain and to determine whether there was a difference in neck flexor muscle endurance between the 2 groups. Subjects. Forty-one subjects with and without neck pain were enrolled in this repeated-measures reliability study. Methods. Two raters used an isometric neck retraction test to assess neck flexor muscle endurancefor all subjects during an initial session, and subjects without neck pain returned for testing 1 week later. Results. For the group without neck pain, intrarater reliability was good to excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC(3,1)]=.82–.91), and interrater reliability was moderate to good (ICC[2,1]=.67–.78). The associated standard error of measurement (SEM) ranged from 8.0 to 11.0 seconds and from 12.6 to 15.3 seconds, respectively. For the group with neck pain, interrater reliability was moderate(ICC[2,1]=.67, SEM=11.5). Neck flexor muscle endurance test results for the group without neck pain (X̄=38.95 seconds, SD=26.4) and the group with neck pain (X̄=24.1 seconds, SD=12.8) were significantly different. Discussion and Conclusion. Reliability coefficients differed between the 2 groups and ranged from moderate to excellent and improved after the first test session. The interrater reliability of data obtained with the neck flexor muscle endurance test in people with neck pain must be improved in order for clinicians to distinguish a clinically meaningful change from measurement error. Neck flexor muscle endurance was both statistically and clinically greater for subjects without neck pain than for those with neck pain.

scholarly journals Sonographic Wrist Measurements and Detection of Anatomical Features in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Vögelin ◽  
Thomas Mészàros ◽  
Franziska Schöni ◽  
Mihai A. Constantinescu
Keyword(s):  
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ◽  
Carpal Tunnel ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Risk Evaluation ◽  
Flexor Muscle ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Anatomical Features ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
History Of ◽  
Tunnel Syndrome

Introduction. This study compares anatomical findings at wrist level in patients with known carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and controls by ultrasonography (US).Material and Methods. Wrist-US investigations of 28 consecutive patients with 38 diagnosed, idiopathic CTS were compared to 49 healthy volunteers without history of CTS. Internal wrists dimensions, the presence of flexor muscle bellies in the carpal tunnel, and cross-sectional area of the median nerve were analyzed. The findings were correlated to gender, age, and BMI.Results. US demonstrated a square internal carpal tunnel configuration in CTS patients compared to controls (P<0.001). Patients with CTS showed a trend towards the presence of flexor muscles bellies in the carpal tunnel (odds ratio 1.77, 95% CI 0.337–8.33). CTS was present in women with higher BMI (P=0.015).Conclusion. US allowed detection of specific anatomical features at wrist level in CTS patients. This observation may enable—following confirmation in larger prospective studies—risk evaluation for CTS development.

scholarly journals Professional Pitchers Display Differences in UCL Morphology and Elbow Gapping During Moving Valgus Stress Testing After UCL Reconstruction

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 232596712110357
Author(s):  
Michael J. Kissenberth ◽  
Charles A. Thigpen ◽  
Lane Brooks Bailey ◽  
Joel Campbell ◽  
Derik J. Geist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Model ◽  
Stress Test ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Surgical Techniques ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Valgus Stress ◽  
Good Reliability ◽  
History Of ◽  
Baseball Pitchers

Background: Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction (UCLR) of the elbow has received much attention given the rise in incidence among baseball pitchers. Stress ultrasonography has been demonstrated to be a critical evaluation tool of the UCL. No study has dynamically evaluated the ability of UCLR to restore normal kinematics. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to compare ulnohumeral gapping during a moving valgus stress test as well as UCL thickness between professional pitchers with and without UCLR. We hypothesized that the ulnohumeral joint will display greater gapping and the UCL graft will be thicker in pitchers after UCLR compared with uninjured pitchers. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Ultrasonography was used to measure the medial ulnohumeral joint distance and the UCL thickness of 70 asymptomatic professional baseball pitchers; 6 of the participants had a history of UCLR. Images were captured of the dominant (D) and nondominant (ND) elbows at the maximal cocking position under 2 loaded conditions within the moving valgus stress test arc: (1) gravity stress and (2) 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) of valgus force using a dynamometer. Intra- and interrater reliability of the measurements was established with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Separate mixed-model analyses of variance (D side × UCL) were used to compare the D and ND elbow variables between pitchers with and without a history of UCLR. Results: All measurements displayed good reliability according to ICCs. Pitchers with a history of UCLR demonstrated less gapping (5.6 ± 2.9 vs 4.2 ± 1.2 mm; P = .002) and greater UCL graft thickness (0.17 ± 0.07 vs 0.11 ± 0.08 mm; P = .03) compared with the native ligament in pitchers without prior UCL injury. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that the UCLR results in a thicker, stiffer construct with less medial elbow gapping than the anatomical UCL. Using ultrasound to evaluate the UCL was a reliable, efficient, and clinically feasible method to assess UCL thickness and joint gapping in players with a history of UCLR. Future studies may consider this approach to evaluate surgical techniques and graft types for UCLR.

scholarly journals Inter-Visit Reliability of Smooth Pursuit Neck Torsion Test in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain and Healthy Individuals

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 752
Author(s):  
Ziva Majcen Rosker ◽  
Miha Vodicar ◽  
Eythor Kristjansson
Keyword(s):  
Neck Pain ◽  
Smooth Pursuit ◽  
Torsion Test ◽  
Chronic Neck Pain ◽  
Neutral Position ◽  
Target Movement ◽  
Good Reliability ◽  
Interclass Correlation ◽  
Smallest Detectable Change ◽  
Neck Torsion

Visual disturbances are commonly reported in patients with neck pain. Smooth pursuit neck torsion (SPNT) test performed in neutral position and with trunk rotated under the stationary head has been used to discriminate between those with cervical component and those without. However, no studies investigated the reliability of the SPNT-test in patients with chronic neck pain and healthy controls. The aim of this study was to assess inter-visit reliability of the SPNT-test while applying different amplitudes and velocities of target movement. Thirty-two controls and thirty-one patients were enrolled in the study. The SPNT-test was performed in neutral position and through 45° torsion positions. The test was performed at 20°/s, 30°/s and 40°/s velocities and at 30°, 40° and 50° amplitudes of cyclic sinusoidal target movements. Interclass correlation coefficient and smallest detectable change were calculated for parameters of gain and SPNT-differences. In patients, moderate to good reliability was observed for gain at 40° and 50° amplitudes and for 20°/s and 30°/s velocities, while moderate to excellent reliability for gain was observed in controls. Both groups presented with moderate to good reliability for SPNT-difference. Our findings imply that amplitudes of 40° and 50° and velocities of 20°/s and 30°/s are the most reliable and should be applied in future studies assessing oculomotor functions during the SPNT test.

scholarly journals Short Term Effects of Mobilization Techniques on Neck Pain and Deep Neck Flexor Muscle Endurance in Patients with Mechanical Chronic Neck Pain

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (11_suppl3) ◽  
pp. 2325967114S0027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasan Erkan Kılınç ◽  
Gülcan Harput ◽  
Gül Baltacı ◽  
Deniz İnal İnce
Keyword(s):  
Neck Pain ◽  
Visual Analog Scale ◽  
Muscle Endurance ◽  
Pain Level ◽  
Flexor Muscle ◽  
Analog Scale ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Cervical Muscles ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
Pain Patients

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate short term effects of cervical and scapular mobilization techniques on neck pain and deep cervical muscles endurance in chronical mechanical neck pain patients. Methods: 22 chronical mechanic neck pain patients four male 18 female (mean age: mean±sd 35.59± 15.85) were included. Before treatment, neck pain level (visual analog scale) and deep neck flexor muscles endurance (in supine position with digital chronometer) of all patients were evaluated. Cyriax cervical mobilization for 10 minutes and scapular mobilization for 10 repetition 10 sets were performed to patients as treatment protocol. After treatment, 24 hours after and a week after evaluations of neck pain and deep cervical muscles endurance were repeated. Results: Before treatment Neck pain Visual Analog Scale scores was 5.78±1.43 point, 2.80±1.99 point after treatment, 24 hours later 3.36±2.12 point, one week later 3.91±2.24 point. This alteration was found significant statistically (p<0.01). Before treatment deep cervical flexor muscle endurance score was 27.25±17.74 sec, after treatment 39.46±25.20 sec, 24 hours later 38.67±28.43 and one week later 40.11±27.82 sec. This alteration was also found significant statistically (p=0.01). Conclusion: Initially neck pain scores in our subjects decreased quickly, after 24 hours these scores increased but last scores were below first neck pain level in a week follow-up. Deep neck cervical flexor muscles test scores also increased quickly, after 24 hours later this scores were stable along a week. Mobilization techniques are effective methods on neck pain and endurance in chronical mechanic neck pain patients.

scholarly journals Neck proprioception assessment with a laser beam device: reliability in participants without neck pain and differences between participants with and without neck pain

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Ntenezakos ◽  
Michail Makrogkikas ◽  
Zacharias Dimitriadis ◽  
George A. Koumantakis
Keyword(s):  
Neck Pain ◽  
Laser Beam ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Random Order ◽  
Chronic Neck Pain ◽  
Movement Direction ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Target Movement ◽  
Good Reliability ◽  
Head Neck

Abstract Background Proprioception deficits have previously been reported in patients with non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP), with a comprehensive and valid battery of tests still required. This study aimed to investigate the test-retest and inter-rater reliability of cervical proprioception in participants without NSCNP and to examine differences in proprioception between participants with and without NSCNP. Twenty participants without NSCNP and 20 age- and sex-matched participants with NSCNP were recruited. Proprioception tests were sequentially performed in random order, in four head-to-neutral movement directions (starting positions at mid-flexion, mid-extension and mid-right/mid-left rotation head-neck positions and end position at neutral head-neck posture) and two head-to-target movement directions (starting position from neutral head-neck posture and end positions at right and left 45° rotation), with a laser beam device secured onto their forehead. Participants performed all tests in sitting at a 1-m distance from a whiteboard. The average deviations of the laser beam mark from set targets marked on the whiteboard represented proprioception deficits. The two-way random, absolute agreement model of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard error of the measurement (SEM) and the smallest detectable difference (SDD) were used as measures of reliability. Between-group differences were examined with the independent samples t test. Results The reliability of the laser beam device in participants without neck pain varied from poor to good. The following tests demonstrated good reliability: test-retest ‘Head-to-neutral from flexion’ (ICC: 0.77–0.78; SDD: 5.73–6.84 cm), inter-rater ‘Head-to-neutral from flexion’ (ICC: 0.80–0.82; SDD: 6.20–6.45 cm) and inter-rater ‘Head-to-neutral from right/left rotation’ (ICC: 0.80–0.84; SDD: 5.92–6.81 cm). Differences between participants with and without NSCNP were found only in head-to-neutral from flexion (4.10–4.70 cm); however, those were within the limits of the SDD values of the HtN from flexion test. Conclusions The laser beam device can be reliably used in clinical practice only in the aforementioned head-neck movement directions, based on the findings of the present study. The between-group differences noted involved only the head mid-flexion to neutral test, possibly denoting proprioception deficits only in this movement direction, for reasons that require further evaluation.

Cervical Headache: An Investigation of Natural Head Posture and Upper Cervical Flexor Muscle Performance

Cephalalgia ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 272-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean H Watson ◽  
Patricia H Trott
Keyword(s):  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Isometric Strength ◽  
Muscle Performance ◽  
Endurance Capacity ◽  
Flexor Muscle ◽  
Forward Head Posture ◽  
Head Posture ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
Upper Cervical ◽  
Cervical Posture

In this study, 60 female subjects, aged between 25 and 40 years, were divided into two equal groups on the basis of absence or presence of headache. A passive accessory intervertebral mobility (PAIVM) examination was performed to confirm an upper cervical articular cause of the subjects' headache and a questionnaire was used to establish a profile of the headache population. Measurements of cranio-cervical posture and isometric strength and endurance of the upper cervical flexor muscles were compared between the two groups of subjects. The headache group was found to be significantly different from the non-headache group in respect to forward head posture (FHP) ( t = -5.98, p < 0.00005), less isometric strength ( t = 3.43, p < 0.001) and less endurance ( t = 8.71, p < 0.0005) of the upper cervical flexors. A statistically significant relationship was also established between natural head posture and isometric endurance of the upper cervical flexor musculature which demonstrated that FHP corresponded with a low endurance capacity (c2 = 13.2; p < 0.01). The outcome of this study highlights the need to screen for cervical etiology in patients who are suspected of suffering from common migraine.

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