Neck Muscle Strength and Mobility of the Cervical Spine as Predictors of Neck Pain

Abstract Background Neck pain has been associated with weaker neck muscle strength and decreased cervical spine range of motion. However, whether neck muscle strength or cervical spine mobility predict later neck disability has not been demonstrated. In this 16-year prospective study, we investigated whether neck muscle strength and cervical spine mobility are associated with future neck pain and related disability in women pain-free at baseline. Methods Maximal isometric neck muscle strength and passive range of motion (PROM) of the cervical spine of 220 women (mean age 40, standard deviation (SD) 12 years) were measured at baseline between 2000 and 2002. We conducted a postal survey 16 years later to determine whether any subjects had experienced neck pain and related disability. Linear regression analysis adjusted for age and body mass index was used to determine to what extent baseline neck strength and PROM values were associated with future neck pain and related disability assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Results The regression analysis Beta coefficient remained below 0.1 for all the neck strength and PROM values, indicating no association between neck pain and related disability. Of the 149 (68%) responders, mean NDI was lowest (3.3, SD 3.8) in participants who had experienced no neck pain (n = 50), second lowest (7.7, SD 7.1) in those who had experienced occasional neck pain (n = 94), and highest (19.6, SD 22.0) in those who had experienced chronic neck pain (n = 5). Conclusions This 16-year prospective study found no evidence for an association between either neck muscle strength or mobility and the occurrence in later life of neck pain and disability. Therefore, screening healthy subjects for weaker neck muscle strength or poorer cervical spine mobility cannot be recommended for preventive purposes.

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Effect of manual therapy and stretching on neck muscle strength and mobility in chronic neck pain

Acta Dermato Venereologica ◽

10.2340/16501977-0094 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 39 (7) ◽

pp. 575-579 ◽

Cited By ~ 60

Author(s):

A Häkkinen ◽

P Salo ◽

U Tarvainen ◽

K Wirén ◽

J Ylinen

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Neck Pain ◽

Manual Therapy ◽

Chronic Neck Pain ◽

Neck Muscle

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Effects of an integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique program on neck muscle strength and endurance in individuals with chronic mechanical neck pain

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies ◽

10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.01.004 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 643-651

Author(s):

Dimitrios Lytras ◽

Evaggelos Sykaras ◽

Kosmas Christoulas ◽

Ioannis Myrogiannis ◽

Eleftherios Kellis

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Neck Pain ◽

Neck Muscle ◽

Inhibition Technique

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Cervical-scapular muscles strength and severity of temporomandibular disorder in women with mechanical neck pain

Fisioterapia em Movimento ◽

10.1590/0103-5150.029.002.ao05 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 269-278

Author(s):

Fernanda Pasinato ◽

Juliana Bordin ◽

Clarissa C. Santos-Couto-Paz ◽

Juliana Alves Souza ◽

Eliane C. R. Corrêa

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Neck Pain ◽

Temporomandibular Disorder ◽

Neck Disability Index ◽

Trapezius Muscle ◽

Neck Muscle ◽

Cervical Muscle ◽

Upper Trapezius ◽

Hand Dynamometer ◽

Neck Disability

Abstract Introduction: Changes in cervical muscle function have been observed in patients with neck pain (NP) and TMD. However, the relationship between TMD severity and neck muscle strength in the presence/absence of NP is unknown. Objective: To determine the prevalence of TMD in women with and without mechanical NP and assess the cervical-scapular muscle strength and its association with TMD severity. Methods: Fifteen volunteers without neck pain (CG) and 14 women with mechanical neck pain (NPG) took part and were selected by the Neck Disability Index. The diagnosis and severity of TMD were determined by the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD and Temporomandibular Index (TI), respectively. The strength of the upper trapezius muscle, and cervical flexor and extensor muscles was measured by digital hand dynamometer. Results: 64.5% of women with NP and 33.3% without NP were diagnosed with TMD (p = 0.095). The NPG showed lower strength of the cervical flexor (p = 0.044) and extensor (p=0.006) muscles, and higher TI (p = 0.038) than in the CG. It was also verified moderate negative correlation between TI and the strength of dominant (p = 0.046, r = -0.547) and non-dominant (p = 0.007, r = -0.695) upper trapezius, and cervical flexors (p = 0.023, r = -0.606) in the NPG. Conclusion: There was no difference in the prevalence of TMD in women with and without NP. However, women with NP have lower cervical muscle strength - compared to those without NP - which was associated with greater severity of TMD. Thus, in women with NP associated with TMD, it is advisable to assess and address the severity of this dysfunction and identify the cervical-scapular muscles compromise.

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Effect of specific deep cervical muscle exercises on functional disability, pain intensity, craniovertebral angle, and neck-muscle strength in chronic mechanical neck pain: a randomized controlled trial

Journal of Pain Research ◽

10.2147/jpr.s190125 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol Volume 12 ◽

pp. 915-925 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Thavatchai Suvarnnato ◽

Rungthip Puntumetakul ◽

Sureeporn Uthaikhup ◽

Rose Boucaut

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Neck Pain ◽

Pain Intensity ◽

Functional Disability ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Neck Muscle ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Cervical Muscle ◽

Craniovertebral Angle

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Variation of Neck Muscle Strength Along the Human Cervical Spine

10.4271/2004-22-0017 ◽

2004 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nelson Oi ◽

Marcus G. Pandy ◽

Barry S. Myers ◽

Roger W. Nightingale ◽

Valeta Carol Chancey

Keyword(s):

Cervical Spine ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Neck Muscle

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Muscle endurance training of the neck triggers migraine attacks

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1177/0333102420970184 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 033310242097018

Author(s):

Gabriela F Carvalho ◽

Kerstin Luedtke ◽

Tibor M Szikszay ◽

Debora Bevilaqua-Grossi ◽

Arne May

Keyword(s):

Cervical Spine ◽

Neck Pain ◽

Migraine Attack ◽

Random Order ◽

Muscle Endurance ◽

Neck Muscle ◽

Endurance Test ◽

Local Pain ◽

Manual Examination ◽

The Subject

Background Most migraine patients report neck pain as part of their migraine symptomatology, but it is unknown whether triggering neck pain would induce migraine attacks. Our aim was to assess the occurrence of headache and/or neck pain after an endurance test of the neck muscles among migraineurs and controls. Methods Sixty-five patients with migraine and 32 headache-free participants underwent a manual examination of the cervical spine by an assessor blinded towards the diagnosis and were sub-classified according to the appearance or absence of neck pain. Subsequently, the endurance of the neck flexors and extensors was tested three times, in a random order. The maximum sustained duration was recorded and the test was terminated when the subject was unable to maintain the position or reported pain. On the day after the assessment, participants were asked to report the potential occurrence of headache or neck symptoms. Results None of the controls reported headache after assessment, while migraine-like headache was reported by 42% of the patients with migraine ( p < 0.001) after 15.8 h (SD: 10.0). Neck pain was more prevalent in migraineurs compared to controls (45% vs. 16%, p = 0.006). When considering the neck pain subtype, there were no differences among the three profiles regarding neck pain but participants with referred pain to the head reported a migraine attack more often (45%, p = 0.03). Conclusion Patients with migraine are more likely to report neck pain and migraine attacks following a neck muscle endurance test. Participants with neck pain referred to the head during manual examination had a greater prevalence of migraine attacks than those without or with only local pain.

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Correlation Between Proprioception and Cervical Functions in Individuals with Chronic Neck Pain

Reabilitacijos mokslai slauga kineziterapija ergoterapija ◽

10.33607/rmske.v2i15.708 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (15) ◽

Author(s):

Justina Šimkutė ◽

Inga Muntianaitė ◽

Ligita Aučynienė ◽

Dainė Janonienė

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Neck Pain ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Position Sense ◽

Neck Muscle ◽

Neck Extension ◽

Neck Position ◽

Cervical Range Of Motion ◽

Neck Proprioception ◽

The Right

Background. Neck pain can affect cervical functions: reduce cervical range of motion, muscle strength and endurance. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the assessment of proprioception in individuals with neck pain. It is believed that neck proprioception dysfunction can be linked with neck pain, reduced cervical range-of-motion, muscles strength and endurance. The aim of research was to assess neck dysfunction and proprioception relationship with neck muscle functions, cervical range of motion in individuals with neck pain. Methods. Thirty fve neck pain patients participated in this survey. Neck pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analogue pain scale, neck position sense, cervical active range of motion, cervical muscle strength using Lafayette handheld dynamometer, cervical muscle strength endurance were also evaluated in this study. The statistical analyses were performed. The averages and standard deviations were calculated. Averages were compared with the norm rates. Spearman’s and Pearson’s correlations were used for relationship assessment. Results. The neck position sense and cervical active range of motion statistically signifcantly differed from the norm. There was a difference between lateral neck ﬂexion to the right and to the left – 18° (p < 0.05). The left neck rotation muscles were stronger than the right ones (p < 0.05). Neck extensors had greater endurance than neck ﬂexors for 94.69 seconds (p < 0.05). A statistically significant inverse relationship was found between pain and muscle strength, endurance, and cervical ﬂexion range of motion (p < 0.05). The neck position sense did not correlate with pain. Neck extension position sense negatively correlated with neck muscle group strength endurance (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Individuals with neck pain had neck position sense impairment, muscle imbalance between neck ﬂexors and extensors, and reduced all cervical ranges of motion. With increasing neck pain, intensity muscle strength, muscle endurance, cervical ﬂexion range of motion decreased, but the neck position sense did not correlate with pain. Neck extension position sense was related with all neck muscle group strength endurance.Keywords: neck pain, neck proprioception, muscle strength, muscle endurance, cervical range of motion.

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