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 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.

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.

Cervical flexion relaxation phenomenon in patients with and without non-specific chronic neck pain

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Hasan Shamsi ◽  
Khosro Khademi-Kalantari ◽  
Alireza Akbarzadeh-Baghban ◽  
Neda Izadi ◽  
Farshad Okhovatian
Keyword(s):  
Neck Pain ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Chronic Neck Pain ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Relaxation Phenomenon ◽  
Neutral Position ◽  
Upper Trapezius ◽  
Flexion Relaxation Phenomenon ◽  
Flexion Relaxation ◽  
Flexion And Extension

BACKGROUND: The cervical flexion relaxation phenomenon (FRP) is a myoelectric silence of neck extensor muscles which occurs after a certain degree of flexion. Impaired flexion relaxation can impose the vertebral structures to excessive loading resulting from the persistence of muscular contraction. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the incidence or absence of FRP in cervical erector spinae (CES) and upper trapezius muscles in patients with chronic neck pain (CNP). METHODS: Twenty-five patients with CNP and 25 healthy volunteers were recruited. They accomplished cervical flexion and extension from a neutral position in four phases in the sitting position. The surface electromyography activity of both CES and upper trapezius muscles was recorded in each phase. Cervical flexion and extension movements were simultaneously measured using an electrogoniometer. RESULTS: FRP in CES was observed in 84% and 36% of healthy subjects and CNP patients, respectively. Flexion relaxation ratio (FRR) in CES was lower in CNP patients than in healthy subjects (mean diff = 1.33; 95% CI: 0.75–1.91) (P< 0.001). Only in CNP patients, FRR in right erector spinea was significantly higher than that in the left erector spinea (P= 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: FRP incidence in CNP patients was less than in healthy subjects. Moreover, this phenomenon begins later in CNP patients than in healthy subjects indicating prolonged activity of CES muscles during flexion in the CNP group. The difference between FRR in the right and left sides of erector spinea muscles can result in CNP.

Efficacy of diclofenac mesotherapy for the treatment of chronic neck pain in spondylartrosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola E. Ferrara ◽  
Cristina Nigito ◽  
Giulio Maccauro ◽  
Giorgio Ferriero ◽  
Calogero Foti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neck Pain ◽  
Chronic Neck Pain
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