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Quartey J.1, Ernst M.2, Bello A.1, Hughton A.1, Oppong-Yebaoah B.1, Bonney E.1, Acquaah K.3, Schaemann A.2, Asomaning F.3, Foli M.3, Akushie G.3, Asante S.3, Bauer C.4
1University of Ghana, Physiotherapy, Accra, Ghana, 2Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy, Winterthur, Switzerland, 3Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Physiotherapy, Accra, Ghana, 4Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Physiotherapy, Accra, Ghana
Background: Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal problem with high prevalence in both western and African populations. Literature indicates that proprioceptive dysfunction is associated with neck pain and other symptoms like dizziness. Joint Position Error (JPE) measurements have been studied as a valid reflection of proprioceptive functioning of the head and neck and a useful tool for assessment and reassessment. However assessing JPE in neck pain patients has still not become routine in various physiotherapy clinics due to the fact that the critical influence of proprioceptive functioning on neck pain has not been unequivocally ascertained.
Purpose: To examine the effect of neck pain on proprioceptive functioning of the cervical spine.
Methods: Adult patients with sub-acute or chronic non-specific neck pain and disability were recruited for this cross sectional study carried out at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra Ghana as the experimental group. The proprioceptive functioning of the patients was assessed by measuring their JPE using a laser pointer protocol. The JPE was also assessed for gender and age-matched (within ± 3 years of age) neck pain-free individuals as controls. All participants performed five repetitions of cervical flexion, extension, right and left rotation. All deviations from their marked start (target) position on a plain white background were marked again at the end of each repetition and measured for both axes (ordinate and abscissae) using a ruler graduated in millimetre. The resultant of both axes was calculated subsequently.
The absolute (AE), constant (CE) and variable errors (VE) of the resultant were calculated. To compare between groups unpaired t-test were computed for all dependent variables.
Results: Twenty participants each (experimental and control), which consisted of 15 females in each group participated in this study. Patients mean ages were 51.7 years (9.8) and 52 years (8.3) for the experimental and controls groups respectively. Patients suffered from neck pain for a mean of 18 weeks with 11% intensity on the Neck disability index (NDI). There were no statistically significant and/or clinically meaningful differences between groups for all JPE variables.
Conclusion(s): The study showed no differences between mild disabled neck pain patients and controls in proprioceptive deficits measured by JPE. Larger deviations and variability in the control group might refer to a larger range of movement, which was not controlled. It is suggested that other variables such as dizziness, which is associated with proprioceptive deficits could be measured in future studies.
Implications: JPE of the neck is similar in mild neck pain and control subjects. JPE measurements might be indicated when range of motion is controlled and dizziness is measured in addition.
Funding acknowledgements: University of Basel, Swiss-African Research Cooperation
Topic: Musculoskeletal: spine
Ethics approval: Ethics and Protocol Review Committee of School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
