ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STANDING AND SITTING POSTURES ON NECK PROPRIOCEPTION USING JOINT POSITION ERROR TEST

The proprioceptive sense is a very important function for the body, and joint position error test (JPET) is commonly used to measure it. This study was to analyze the difference of proprioception in standing and sitting postures through the JPET. A total of 60 students (M/F, 12/48) in D University in Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea participated in this study. A JPET was performed with the subject’s eyes closed to assess the neck proprioception. The movement of the neck was measured in flexion, extension, and lateral flexion, and separately measured when sitting and standing. The difference in repositioning errors between sitting and standing postures was analyzed using paired [Formula: see text]-test. There was a significant difference in repositioning errors between sitting and standing posture in neck extension. There was no significant difference in repositioning errors between sitting and standing posture in neck flexion and lateral flexion. In conclusion, in a sitting posture, posterior neck muscles are used more than in the standing posture, which may negatively affect the proprioceptive accuracy of the neck and may also increase the neck repositioning errors.

Effect of vision loss on plasticity of the head and neck proprioception

AIM: To investigate whether head and neck proprioception and motor control could be compensatory enhanced by long-term vision loss or impairment. METHODS: Individuals who were blind, low vision or sighted were included in the study, which would undergo the head repositioning test (HRT). The constant error (CE), absolute error (AE), variable error (VE) and root mean square error (RMSE) of each subject were statistically analyzed. Data were analyzed using the SAS 9.4. Tukey-Kramer for one-way ANOVA was used for comparison of blind, low vision, and sighted subjects, as well as to compare subjects with balanced vision, strong vision in the left eye and strong vision in the right eye. Independent sample t-test was used to compare subjects with congenital blindness and acquired blindness, as well as left and right hand dominance subjects. RESULTS: A total of 90 individuals (25 blind subjects, 31 low vision subjects, and 34 sighted subjects) were included in the study. Among the blind subjects, 14 cases had congenital blindness and 11 cases had acquired blindness. Among the blind and low vision subjects, 21 cases had balanced binocular vision, 17 cases had strong vision in the left eye and 18 cases had strong vision in the right eye. Among all subjects, 11 cases were left hand dominance, and 79 cases were right hand dominance. There were significant differences in AE, VE, and RMSE in head rotation between blind, low vision, and sighted subjects (P<0.01), in AE, VE, and RMSE between blind and sighted (P<0.01), and in VE and RMSE between low vision and sighted (P<0.05). No significant difference between blind and low vision (P>0.05). Significant differences in CE and AE of head right rotation and CE of general head rotation between congenital and acquired (P<0.05). No significant differences between left and right hand dominance and in balance or not of binocular vision (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Long-term vision loss or impairment does not lead to compensatory enhancement of head and neck proprioception and motor control. Acquired experience contributes to HRT performance in the blind and has long-lasting effects on plasticity in the development of proprioception and sensorimotor control.

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

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.

Evidence of Impaired Proprioception in Chronic, Idiopathic Neck Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Despite common use of proprioceptive retraining interventions in people with chronic, idiopathic neck pain, evidence that proprioceptive dysfunction exists in this population is lacking. Determining whether proprioceptive dysfunction exists in people with chronic neck pain has clear implications for treatment prescription. Purpose The aim of this study was to synthesize and critically appraise all evidence evaluating proprioceptive dysfunction in people with chronic, idiopathic neck pain by completing a systematic review and meta-analysis. Data Sources MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, Allied and Complementary Medicine, EMBASE, Academic Search Premier, Scopus, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and Cochrane Collaboration databases were searched. Study Selection All published studies that compared neck proprioception (joint position sense) between a chronic, idiopathic neck pain sample and asymptomatic controls were included. Data Extraction Two independent reviewers extracted relevant population and proprioception data and assessed methodological quality using a modified Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement. Data Synthesis Thirteen studies were included in the present review. Meta-analysis on 10 studies demonstrated that people with chronic neck pain perform significantly worse on head-to-neutral repositioning tests, with a moderate standardized mean difference of 0.44 (95% confidence interval=0.25, 0.63). Two studies evaluated head repositioning using trunk movement (no active head movement thus hypothesized to remove vestibular input) and showed conflicting results. Three studies evaluated complex or postural repositioning tests; postural repositioning was no different between groups, and complex movement tests were impaired only in participants with chronic neck pain if error was continuously evaluated throughout the movement. Limitations A paucity of studies evaluating complex or postural repositioning tests does not permit any solid conclusions about them. Conclusions People with chronic, idiopathic neck pain are worse than asymptomatic controls at head-to-neutral repositioning tests.