Author/Authors :
Saadat, Maryam Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran , Salehi, Reza Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran , Negahban, Hossein Department of Physical Therapy - School of Paramedical Sciences - Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran , Shaterzadeh, Mohammad Jafar Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran , Mehravar, Mohammad Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran , Hessam, Masumeh Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Impairment of cervical sensory input in patients with neck pain may disturb postural stability. The purpose of present
study was to assess the dynamic postural stability of subjects with chronic neck pain compared to a matched control group.
Methods: In this case-control study, 22 chronic non-specific neck pain and 22 healthy individuals participated. Postural stability was
measured with Techno-body Prokin tilting platform. Subjects performed balance tests under two conditions: eyes open and closed. The
parameters for assessment of postural stability were total stability index (TSI), anteroposterior stability index (APSI), mediolateral stability
index (MLSI), and trunk deviation which demonstrated total trunk sway in medio-lateral and antero-posterior. We used a separate
2 (group) by 2 (postural difficulty) mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA) for analysis of postural performance.
Results: There were significant differences between the chronic neck pain and matched control groups in APSI, MLSI, and TSI,
p<0.001 in both eyes opened and closed conditions. The trunk deviation was greater for non-specific neck pain in comparison to healthy
subjects, p<0.05 in both conditions of eyes open and closed.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that patients with chronic neck pain have poorer postural control than healthy subjects.
The findings suggest that clinicians take into account the importance of dynamic postural stability assessment in patients with chronic
non-specific neck pain and consider the application of intervention programs for improvement of the dynamic balance.
Keywords :
Balance , Posture , Dynamic stability , Chronic neck pain