FACTORS INFLUENCING CERVICAL PROPRIOCEPTION IN INDIVIDUALS WITH NECK PAIN

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Neck pain is a common problem among the general population, and impaired proprioception is an important problem that subsequently leads to cervical sensorimotorcontroldisturbancesifleftuntreated.Thereisconflictingevidenceregardingthe association of neck disorder type, range deficit, deep neck flexor strength, endurance of neck flexors, and extensor strength with cervical proprioceptive impairment.

AIM: To identify the factors that could influence cervical joint proprioception error (CJPE) in individuals with neck pain.

METHODS: A total of 186 subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included after obtaining informed consent to participate. Upon enrollment, demographic and other basic clinical data were obtained. Then subjects underwent evaluation of pain intensity using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), cervical range using a bubble inclinometer, deep flexor andextensorendurancetesting,deepflexorstrengthusingCraniocervicalflexiontest(CCFT), regionalfunctionusingtheNeckDisabilityIndex(NDI),andcervicalproprioceptionusingthe Cervico-Cephalic Relocation Test (JPE). Pearson correlation was used to examine the correlation, and the significantly correlating variables were entered into a multiple regression with backward elimination analysis to know their influence on CJPE.

RESULTS:Co-relationalanalysisofthepresumedfactors revealedasignificant andpositive association (p<0.001) between all except for gender for error in CJPE extension and right rotationdirection,neckrotationrangeoflimitationtotherightside(forerrorinalldirections), forwardheadpostureforerrorinCPJEleftrotationdirection,anddisabilityscore(forerrorin all directions).

Age, pain intensity, pain duration, limited neck right lateral flexion, deep neck flexors, and endurance of cervical flexors and extensors significantly influence CJPE in all directions.

CONCLUSION: Subjects with neck pain showed significantly greater cervical joint proprioception errors. Advancing age, high pain intensity, longer pain duration, weak deep neck flexors, decreased endurance of cervical flexors and extensors, and neck lateral flexion deficitssignificantlyinfluencecervicalproprioception.Considerationoftheaboveinformation in the evaluation and management of neck pain could lead to better proprioception and functional ability in this population.