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Ask T1, Skouen JS2, Goplen F3, Nordahl SHG3, Knapstad M3
1Haukeland University Hospital, Physiotherapy, Bergen, Norway, 2Haukeland University Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Bergen, Norway, 3Haukeland University Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Bergen, Norway
Background: Patients with persistent neck pain referred to specialist units frequently report concurrent dizziness. Further, reports indicate that those with both complaints are suffering more than those with only neck pain. However, there is a lack of knowledge of musculoskeletal function and quality of life in patients with concurrent neck pain and dizziness compared to those with only neck pain.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the difference in quality of life and musculoskeletal function in patients with concurrent neck pain and dizziness (NPD) compared to patients with only neck pain (NP).
Methods: A cross-sectional trial was carried out in an Outpatient spine clinic in Bergen, Norway, from August 2017 to June 2018. One hundred and twenty nine patients referred for neck pain were consecutive recruited. The inclusion criteria were neck pain and an age between 18 and 67 years old. Exclusion criteria were not sufficient language skills.
Quality of life was measured with the RAND-12 health status inventory. This form gives two sub scores; mental and physical quality of life. Dizziness was reported yes and no. Self-reported function was measured by Neck Disability Index (NDI) and pain intensity by numeric pain rating scale (NPRS).
The physical tests were: Global Body Examination (GBE)-4 tests of flexibility, American College of Rheumatology (ACR)- 18 tenderpoints, cervical range of motion (CROM), pressure pain threshold in upper and lower neck (Wagner FDX-25 device) and static balance on a platform (Synapys Postugraphy System) (eyes open and eyes closed).
Analysis: The quality of life and the physical tests were compared between NPD-group and NP-group with the students t-test. If violation of normality was found, non-parametric analysis was performed.
Results: Eighty percent of the patients were women, and the mean age was 40.7, with no significance differences between the groups. Forty five percent of the patients reported both neck pain and dizziness. The NPD-group scored statistical significant lower (worse) on RAND-12, both on mental (P= 0.020) and physical quality of life (P=0.024). The NPD group had significant higher (worse) score on NDI compared to the NP- group (P=0.018). Additionally, they had significant reduced balance with both open (P 0.001) and closed eyes (P=0.024) compared to the NP group. GBE-flexibility, ACR-tenderpoints, CROM and pressure pain threshold in upper and lower neck showed no significant differences between the groups.
Conclusion(s): The patients with concurrent neck pain and dizziness scores significant lower on musculoskeletal function and quality of life compared to those with only neck pain.
Implications: These results indicate that the patients with concurrent neck pain and dizziness suffer more than those with only neck pain. Increased knowledge about the patients with concurrent neck pain and dizziness can give us insight about more differential treatment for this group.
Keywords: neck pain, dizziness, function
Funding acknowledgements: Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Vestibular Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the difference in quality of life and musculoskeletal function in patients with concurrent neck pain and dizziness (NPD) compared to patients with only neck pain (NP).
Methods: A cross-sectional trial was carried out in an Outpatient spine clinic in Bergen, Norway, from August 2017 to June 2018. One hundred and twenty nine patients referred for neck pain were consecutive recruited. The inclusion criteria were neck pain and an age between 18 and 67 years old. Exclusion criteria were not sufficient language skills.
Quality of life was measured with the RAND-12 health status inventory. This form gives two sub scores; mental and physical quality of life. Dizziness was reported yes and no. Self-reported function was measured by Neck Disability Index (NDI) and pain intensity by numeric pain rating scale (NPRS).
The physical tests were: Global Body Examination (GBE)-4 tests of flexibility, American College of Rheumatology (ACR)- 18 tenderpoints, cervical range of motion (CROM), pressure pain threshold in upper and lower neck (Wagner FDX-25 device) and static balance on a platform (Synapys Postugraphy System) (eyes open and eyes closed).
Analysis: The quality of life and the physical tests were compared between NPD-group and NP-group with the students t-test. If violation of normality was found, non-parametric analysis was performed.
Results: Eighty percent of the patients were women, and the mean age was 40.7, with no significance differences between the groups. Forty five percent of the patients reported both neck pain and dizziness. The NPD-group scored statistical significant lower (worse) on RAND-12, both on mental (P= 0.020) and physical quality of life (P=0.024). The NPD group had significant higher (worse) score on NDI compared to the NP- group (P=0.018). Additionally, they had significant reduced balance with both open (P 0.001) and closed eyes (P=0.024) compared to the NP group. GBE-flexibility, ACR-tenderpoints, CROM and pressure pain threshold in upper and lower neck showed no significant differences between the groups.
Conclusion(s): The patients with concurrent neck pain and dizziness scores significant lower on musculoskeletal function and quality of life compared to those with only neck pain.
Implications: These results indicate that the patients with concurrent neck pain and dizziness suffer more than those with only neck pain. Increased knowledge about the patients with concurrent neck pain and dizziness can give us insight about more differential treatment for this group.
Keywords: neck pain, dizziness, function
Funding acknowledgements: Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Vestibular Disorders, Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Topic: Musculoskeletal: spine; Musculoskeletal
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: haukeland University Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery
Ethics committee: Regionale komitees for medisinsk og helsefaglig forskningsetikk, REK sør-øst
Ethics number: 2017/783
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
