Assessment of Neuromuscular and Psychological Function in People with Recurrent Neck Pain during a Period of Remission: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses
The aim of this study was to examine for the presence of differences in neuromuscular and psychological function in individuals with recurrent neck pain (RNP) or chronic neck pain (CNP) following a whiplash trauma compared to healthy controls. A secondary aim was to examine whether neuromuscular cha...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/7/2042 |
| _version_ | 1797438762711515136 |
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| author | Ahmed Alalawi Valter Devecchi Alessio Gallina Alejandro Luque-Suarez Deborah Falla |
| author_facet | Ahmed Alalawi Valter Devecchi Alessio Gallina Alejandro Luque-Suarez Deborah Falla |
| author_sort | Ahmed Alalawi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study was to examine for the presence of differences in neuromuscular and psychological function in individuals with recurrent neck pain (RNP) or chronic neck pain (CNP) following a whiplash trauma compared to healthy controls. A secondary aim was to examine whether neuromuscular characteristics together with psychological features in people with RNP were predictive of future painful episodes. Multiple features were assessed including neck disability, kinesiophobia, quality of life, cervical kinematics, proprioception, activity of superficial neck flexor muscles, maximum neck flexion and extension strength, and perceived exertion during submaximal contractions. Overall, those with RNP (<i>n</i> = 22) and CNP (<i>n</i> = 8) presented with higher neck disability, greater kinesiophobia, lower quality of life, slower and irregular neck movements, and less neck strength compared to controls (<i>n</i> = 15). Prediction analysis in the RNP group revealed that a higher number of previous pain episodes within the last 12 months along with lower neck flexion strength were predictors of higher neck disability at a 6-month follow-up. This preliminary study shows that participants with RNP presented with some degree of altered neuromuscular features and poorer psychological function with respect to healthy controls and these features were similar to those with CNP. Neck flexor weakness was predictive of future neck disability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:42:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e25b8841fe0f482293fef9d151411049 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:42:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-e25b8841fe0f482293fef9d1514110492023-11-30T23:30:27ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832022-04-01117204210.3390/jcm11072042Assessment of Neuromuscular and Psychological Function in People with Recurrent Neck Pain during a Period of Remission: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal AnalysesAhmed Alalawi0Valter Devecchi1Alessio Gallina2Alejandro Luque-Suarez3Deborah Falla4Physical Therapy Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi ArabiaCentre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain (CPR Spine), School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UKCentre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain (CPR Spine), School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UKDepartment of Physiotherapy, Universidad de Malaga, 29016 Malaga, SpainCentre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain (CPR Spine), School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UKThe aim of this study was to examine for the presence of differences in neuromuscular and psychological function in individuals with recurrent neck pain (RNP) or chronic neck pain (CNP) following a whiplash trauma compared to healthy controls. A secondary aim was to examine whether neuromuscular characteristics together with psychological features in people with RNP were predictive of future painful episodes. Multiple features were assessed including neck disability, kinesiophobia, quality of life, cervical kinematics, proprioception, activity of superficial neck flexor muscles, maximum neck flexion and extension strength, and perceived exertion during submaximal contractions. Overall, those with RNP (<i>n</i> = 22) and CNP (<i>n</i> = 8) presented with higher neck disability, greater kinesiophobia, lower quality of life, slower and irregular neck movements, and less neck strength compared to controls (<i>n</i> = 15). Prediction analysis in the RNP group revealed that a higher number of previous pain episodes within the last 12 months along with lower neck flexion strength were predictors of higher neck disability at a 6-month follow-up. This preliminary study shows that participants with RNP presented with some degree of altered neuromuscular features and poorer psychological function with respect to healthy controls and these features were similar to those with CNP. Neck flexor weakness was predictive of future neck disability.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/7/2042whiplashchronic neck painrecurrent neck paincervical kinematicsneuromuscular function |
| spellingShingle | Ahmed Alalawi Valter Devecchi Alessio Gallina Alejandro Luque-Suarez Deborah Falla Assessment of Neuromuscular and Psychological Function in People with Recurrent Neck Pain during a Period of Remission: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses Journal of Clinical Medicine whiplash chronic neck pain recurrent neck pain cervical kinematics neuromuscular function |
| title | Assessment of Neuromuscular and Psychological Function in People with Recurrent Neck Pain during a Period of Remission: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses |
| title_full | Assessment of Neuromuscular and Psychological Function in People with Recurrent Neck Pain during a Period of Remission: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Neuromuscular and Psychological Function in People with Recurrent Neck Pain during a Period of Remission: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Neuromuscular and Psychological Function in People with Recurrent Neck Pain during a Period of Remission: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses |
| title_short | Assessment of Neuromuscular and Psychological Function in People with Recurrent Neck Pain during a Period of Remission: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses |
| title_sort | assessment of neuromuscular and psychological function in people with recurrent neck pain during a period of remission cross sectional and longitudinal analyses |
| topic | whiplash chronic neck pain recurrent neck pain cervical kinematics neuromuscular function |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/7/2042 |
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