Article

OBJECTIVE: To assess a range of physical and psychological factors and determine
which factors contribute the most to reduced strength in patients with neck pain.
DESIGN: Regression. SETTING: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Women with chronic neck
pain (n=34) and healthy controls (n=14). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neck flexion, extension, and lateral flexion maximum voluntary
contractions (MVC) were measured in patients and healthy controls. Additional
parameters were collected for the patient group including: (1) questionnaires
measuring general health (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health
Survey), pain intensity, disability (Neck Disability Index [NDI]; Patient
Specific Functional Scale), and fear of movement (Fear-Avoidance Beliefs
Questionnaire [FABQ]), (2) pressure pain thresholds, (3) cross-sectional area of
selected neck muscles, and (4) surface electromyography from selected neck
muscles during a multidirectional isometric task. Univariate and multivariate
regression analyses were applied with the average MVC (average of flexion,
extension, and lateral flexion MVC) as the dependent variable. RESULTS: The
average MVC was significantly lower in patients
(mean +/- SD, 130.0+/-6.0N)
compared with controls (166.9+/-11.7N; P<.01). Univariate regression of the
average MVC with the FABQ, NDI, or pain experienced during the MVC gave R(2)
values of 13.4%, 13.8%, and 21.1%, respectively. Collectively, the FABQ and pain
experienced during the MVCs resulted in an R(2) of 26.6% and the FABQ,
contraction pain, and NDI, an R(2) of 28.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The average maximum
voluntary force produced in neck flexion, extension, and lateral flexion is
inversely and moderately correlated with the pain experienced during maximal
contraction, fear of movement, and aspects of neck disability in patients with chronic neck pain.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS