File
Ghamkhar L.1, Kahlaee A.H.2
1University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Physical Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 2University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Background: Differential alterations have been reported in the local and global cervical muscles in the presence of chronic neck pain (CNP), including the endurance alterations of these muscles. Identifying the involved muscles is crucial to the assessment and rehabilitation of these patients.
Purpose: To assess the relationship between clinical endurance test results and ultrasonographic (US) measurements of the neck extensor muscles and to compare the deep and superficial cervical extensor muscles endurance and size of CNP patients with those of asymptomatic subjects.
Methods: This is a case-control study. Thirty patients with CNP and 30 asymptomatic subjects participated in this study. The deep (semispinalis cervicis (SSCer), multifidus (MF)) and superficial ((splenius capitis (Sp Cap), semispinalis capitis (SSCap)) extensor muscles endurance and dimensions were measured via a clinical test and by US, respectively. Participants were asked to hold the neutral chin tuck position while lying prone. The test would be terminated if the head moved into either flexion or extension which would yield global or local extensor muscles endurance, respectively.
Results: The CNP patients showed lower global extensor endurance levels than the control participants
(p 0.05). The US measures of the deep extensor muscles were also smaller in the CNP group
(p 0.05). There were no significant correlations between extensor endurance test results and US measures in either group excepting for the SS Cap muscle size with local and total endurance (p=0.04 for both) of CNP and control participants, respectively. NDI was correlated with Sp Cap and SS Cer muscles thickness in a positive and negative manner, respectively (p=0.03 for both). There was also a significant correlation between MF size and VAS (p 0.05).
Conclusion(s): The findings showed higher level of global muscles fatigability in CNP patients and an association between extensor muscles size and disability indices. The results challenge the validity of the clinical extensor muscles endurance test in the differentiation of the deep and superficial extensor muscles endurance and the use of US in the assessment of cervical muscles endurance. Further investigations are needed to judge the superficial and deep muscles endurance in CNP patients.
Implications: This might indicate that although successfully differentiating the CNP patients, the endurance test utilized in this study may not effectively differentiate deep and superficial muscles endurance in the cervical region.
Funding acknowledgements: Nothing
Topic: Musculoskeletal: spine
Ethics approval: The Human Ethical Committee of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (Ethical Approval Code: IR.USWR.REC.1394.191).
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
