Comparison and Association of Neck Extensor Muscles’ Endurance and Postural Function in Subjects with and without Chronic Neck Pain – A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose Neck extensor endurance (NEE) and position sense are vital for maintaining cervical spine function and defects in these processes may be associated with impaired postural control in chronic neck pain (CNP) subjects. The study’s objectives are 1) to compare the cervical extensor endurance capability and postural control of CNP subjects with those of asymptomatic controls; 2) to investigate the association between NEE and postural control.

Materials and Methods Sixty-four participants (38 asymptomatic, 38 with CNP) participated in this cross-sectional study. NEE was assessed using a clinical extensor endurance test. Under open and closed eyes conditions, postural control measures were tested with the Good Balance system. The postural control parameters were AP-velocity (mm/s), ML-velocity (mm/s) and Velocity moment (mm2). NEE capacity and postural control parameters were compared and correlated between asymptomatic and CNP subjects.

Results and Discussion CNP subjects showed lower NEE capacity (p<0.001) and significantly larger AP-velocity (p<0.001), ML-velocity (p<0.001) and Velocity moment (p<0.001) than asymptomatic participants. NEE negatively correlated with AP-velocity (r=−0.51, p=0.001), ML-velocity (r=0.46, p=0.003) and velocity moment (r=0.38, p=0.020) in asymptomatic subjects in eyes open condition and no correlations in subjects with CNP. CNP subjects showed increased postural sway velocities and lowered extensor endurance capacity compared to asymptomatic participants. No correlations existed between NEE and postural control parameters in CNP subjects.

Zusammenfassung

Zweck Die Ausdauer des Nackenstreckers (NEE) und der Positionssinn sind für die Aufrechterhaltung der Funktion der Halswirbelsäule von entscheidender Bedeutung. Defekte bei diesen Prozessen können bei Patienten mit chronischen Nackenschmerzen (CNP) mit einer beeinträchtigten Haltungskontrolle verbunden sein. Die Ziele der Studie sind 1) der Vergleich der Ausdauerfähigkeit des Zervixstreckers und der Haltungskontrolle von CNP-Probanden mit denen der asymptomatischen Kontrollen; 2) den Zusammenhang zwischen NEE und Haltungskontrolle zu untersuchen.

Material und Methoden 64 Teilnehmer (38 asymptomatisch, 38 mit CNP) nahmen an dieser Querschnittsstudie teil. Die NEE wurde unter Verwendung eines klinischen Extensor-Ausdauertests bewertet. Unter Bedingungen mit offenen und geschlossenen Augen wurden Haltungskontrollmaßnahmen mit dem Good Balance System getestet. Die Haltungskontrollparameter waren AP-Geschwindigkeit (mm / s), ML-Geschwindigkeit (mm / s) und Geschwindigkeitsmoment (mm2). Die NEE-Kapazität und die Haltungskontrollparameter wurden verglichen und zwischen asymptomatischen und CNP-Probanden korreliert. Ergebnisse und Diskussion: CNP-Probanden zeigten eine geringere NEE-Kapazität (p<0,001) und eine signifikant größere AP-Geschwindigkeit (p<0,001), ML-Geschwindigkeit (p<0,001) und Geschwindigkeitsmoment (p<0,001) als asymptomatische Teilnehmer. NEE korrelierte negativ mit der AP-Geschwindigkeit (r=−0,51, p=0,001), der ML-Geschwindigkeit (r=0,46, p=0,003) und dem Geschwindigkeitsmoment (r=0,38, p=0,020) bei asymptomatischen Probanden bei geöffneten Augen und Keine Korrelationen bei Probanden mit CNP. CNP-Probanden zeigten im Vergleich zu asymptomatischen Teilnehmern erhöhte Haltungsschwankungsgeschwindigkeiten und eine verringerte Ausdauerleistung des Streckers. Bei CNP-Patienten bestanden keine Korrelationen zwischen NEE und Haltungskontrollparametern.

Key words

chronic neck pain - Extensor muscles - postural control - endurance

Schlüsselwörter

chronische Nackenschmerzen - Streckmuskeln - Haltungskontrolle - Ausdauer

Publication History

Received: 26 December 2020

Accepted: 18 February 2021

Article published online:
31 March 2021

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