Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare cervical kinematics during functional motion in patients
with neck pain and in asymptomatic participants using a novel virtual reality
assessment. DESIGN: Clinical comparative trial. SETTING: Participants were
recruited from university staff and students, and from a local physical therapy
clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with chronic neck pain (n=25) and asymptomatic
participants (n=42). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Kinematic measures (response time, peak and mean velocity, number of velocity
peaks, time to peak velocity percentage) were sampled while participants were
engaged in the virtual game. Group and motion direction differences were assessed
with a 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance, Tukey-Kramer testing, and
contrast analysis when relevant. RESULTS: Participants with neck pain had lower
peak and mean velocities than the asymptomatic participants (P<.0001). They also
demonstrated a greater number of velocity peaks, indicating impaired motion
smoothness (P=.0036). No significant group differences were found for response
time or for time to peak velocity percentage. Cervical rotations were
significantly faster and smoother than flexion and extension movements (P<.05).
The overall impairment percentage in velocity and smoothness of cervical motion
in patients with neck pain ranged from 22% to 44% compared with asymptomatic
participants. CONCLUSIONS: Velocity and smoothness of cervical motion were more
restricted in patients with chronic neck pain than found previously. Unlike range
of motion and other static measurements, these dynamic variables reflect
functional cervical motion and therefore contribute to a better understanding of
the impairment associated with neck pain. Because the ability to move quickly in
response to external stimuli is a commonly occurring phenomenon, this deficit is
highly relevant to clinical assessment and management.
CI - Copyright (c) 2010 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS